ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The emerging Eckerd College women's tennis program took a giant leap in its spring progression on Sunday morning, posting a shutout against Bentley (Mass.) University on the Turley Athletic Complex courts, 9-0.
The Tritons (2-7, 0-5 SSC) added to their win total on the year after taking down Cumberland (Tenn.) University and claimed all six singles matchups (in straight sets) and three doubles contests.
Eckerd improved to 2-2 in the month of March.
For such a young team with underclassmen prevalent throughout the roster, EC assistant coach
Ben Maxwell saw plenty of signs his team was coming around after enduring a tough month of February.
“The girls played outstanding today,” he praised. “They came out with a winning mentality. They started off very strong sweeping all three doubles matches and then they went out and took care of business in singles. They are starting to show maturity with every match and I couldn't be more proud to coach them.”
Gipson Hawn and
Erika Fridrik teamed up to win the No. 1 doubles matchup by a score of 8-6, while the combination of
Taylor Bullock/
Stephanie Jenks and
Katie Benn/
Carson Trapp, claimed their respective duels, 8-4 and 8-1.
Hawn made quick work of Bentley's Kara Murphy in singles, cruising to a 6-0, 6-0, blanking.
EC's Jenks grabbed a 6-1, 6-1, win in the top singles matchup while Trapp, Bullock, Fridrik, and another freshman,
Amy Naula, also put a tally in the win column with impressive showings against Bentley.
The Tritons will look to keep their momentum going strong this Wednesday as they travel to the University of Tampa as SSC play resumes. The match is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
Eckerd 9, Bentley (Mass.) University 0
Doubles:
Singles:
