HILLSBORO & WICHITA, Kan. -- The John Brown University women's tennis team cruised to a sweep over Tabor (Kan.) before landing a huge winner-take-all-flight victory at Friends (Kan.) on Saturday (March 8) at the Hillsboro Sports Complex and the Riverside Tennis Center, respectively, to sweep its second road trip of the season through Kansas.
Against the Bluejays, John Brown (6-3) set the tone early by sweeping all three doubles flights, securing the doubles point for a 1-0 lead. Sophomores Ana Moreno and Annelise Dunn dominated at the third slot, winning 6-0 over Tabor's (0-3) Shallyn Schierling and Emily Hunt. Seniors Erin Kuykendall and Ellie Swan followed with a 6-1 victory at the second flight, before freshmen Ashley Miller and Arianny Sira closed out the doubles sweep with another 6-1 win at the top position.
JBU continued its strong play in singles, not dropping a set in any match. Swan was first off the court at the fourth flight, blanking Schierling 6-0, 6-0, before Sira followed suit at the third spot, also posting a 6-0, 6-0 win over Grace Unruh, pushing the Golden Eagles ahead 3-0.
Kuykendall then delivered the match-clinching point at the second slot, rolling past Mikayla Unruh 6-2, 6-0 to secure the 4-0 team victory. The final three matches played out with similar dominance, as Miller grabbed a 6-2, 6-3 win at the top singles spot, while Moreno and freshman Avery Webber each delivered flawless 6-0, 6-0 performances at the fifth and sixth flights, respectively, closing out the 7-0 sweep against Tabor (0-3).
After traveling to Wichita to face the Falcons (1-3), Swan secured the deciding point, lifting the Golden Eagles to a 4-3 victory over Friends.
"Easily the biggest win for the ladies during my time leading the program," head coach Mike Campbell admitted.
The Golden Eagles (7-3) found themselves in an early hole after dropping the doubles point despite receiving a win by default at the third flight. At No. 3 doubles, Moreno and Webber were awarded the victory by default, but the Falcons (1-3) responded with wins at the top two spots to secure the doubles point. Silva Avakian and Carlotta Klee defeated Miller and Sira 6-3 at the top flight, while Aneth Diaz and Molly Bender edged Swan and Dunn 7-5 at the middle spot to complete the doubles sweep for Friends.
John Brown's comeback began in singles play with Webber claiming another win by default at the sixth flight to level the match at 1-1. Moreno then improved to 7-2 on the year and gave JBU its first lead with a dominating 6-1, 6-0 victory over Bender at No. 4 singles.
The Falcons responded at the top singles slot as No. 14 Avakian defeated Miller 6-0, 6-0 to even the score at 2-2, but Dunn quickly put the Golden Eagles back in front with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win over Ewert at the fifth position.
Friends tied the match once more when Diaz defeated Sira 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles, setting up a decisive battle at the second flight. Swan delivered the clinching point for John Brown, defeating Klee 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2 singles to secure the 4-3 victory for the Golden Eagles.
JBU returns to action next weekend when the Golden Eagles travel to Lawrence, Kan. to take on Grand View (Iowa), Missouri Valley and Baker (Kan.) at the Genesis Health Club.
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