Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Freshman
Taylor Bullock won her team-leading sixth match, earning redemption from a previous meeting, but the Eckerd College women's tennis team fell victim to the University of Tampa on Thursday afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex, 8-1.
Bullock handily defeated Megan Mancini in singles, 6-1, 6-1, while fellow freshmen
Gipson Hawn and
Katie Benn each forced respective third-set tiebreaks against their opponents.
The Tritons (3-14, 0-7 SSC) remain in the hunt to qualify for the Sunshine State Conference Tournament after a loss to the Spartans (7-9, 1-7 SSC). Eckerd needs to win the final regular-season contest this afternoon in Winter Park against Rollins College to make postseason play.
“Unfortunately, it's been tough playing Tampa this year and they've gotten better,” EC assistant coach
Ben Maxwell said. “Taylor was outstanding and she took care of business quickly. Gipson and Katie each showed a lot of heart.”
Bullock improved her record to 6-8 overall in her first season while taking down Mancini in the No. 5 singles position. Mancini had the slight upper hand when the two teams met earlier in the season on March 14.
Hawn took Lauren Hewett to the brink of victory, falling in the tiebreaker 10-8, while Benn battled Jenelle Morgan to a 10-5 decision.
It also marked the final home contest for senior
Stephanie Jenks, who has faced the opposition's No. 1 all season. She was matched up against Thahsia Garcia.
Tampa earned the doubles sweep with 8-4, 8-3 and 8-0, scores.
The Tritons will look to take down the Tars today at 3:30 p.m. in a rescheduled match that was postponed from March 29.
