Box Score in HTML Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the first time since 1985, the Christopher Newport women's tennis team came away with a shutout of long-time rival Methodist University (2-1), defeating the regionally-ranked Monarchs, 9-0, in the CNU Quad finale. The Captains improve to 3-0 while snapping a ten-match losing streak to the Monarchs, dating back to the 2007 season. 

The impressive victory serves as the first upset of the year for CNU, as the Captains were ranked 15th in the Atlantic South preseason rankings, while the USA South favorites from Methodist were pegged as the No. 8 best team in the region. With the first shutout over their former conference rivals since the mid-80's, Christopher Newport ran their all-time record against Methodist to 12-24.

Playing in their third match in less than 24 hours, the Captains raced out to a quick 3-0 lead with their third straight doubles sweep of the weekend. First, sophomore Logan Eldridge paired with rookie Alexandra Drye to capture an 8-1 win over Davi Barbour and Stephanie Hunter in the No. 3 position. The other two matches were much closer, as the No. 2 tandems battled back and forth while the top flight saw CNU have to hold off a Methodist comeback before CNU secured both victories, 8-6. 

Katie Carlson and Meili Konell fell behind, 2-1, against Abigail Randolph and Emily Talley in the No. 2 battle, but the match turned with a 3-1 run for the CNU pairing as the Captains pulled ahead, 4-3. The two teams teetered again, as the score was tied at six before the Carlson and Konell closed out the win with the final two games, 8-6. In the No. 1 doubles match, Harwood and Huck raced out to a 6-3 lead before Isabella Graf and Sam Munze staged a comeback, tying things up at six. CNU picked up the critical seventh game point first, holding serve as Kate Huck slammed a pair of volley winners. CNU broke Methodist's serve for the final game, winning 8-6 and giving CNU a 3-0 lead in the team score. 

With the momentum of a doubles sweep behind them, the Captains settled in to clinch the win quickly into singles play. First, Drye cruised past Munze, 6-0, 6-1, in the No. 2 singles matchup. The match-clinching victory would come courtesy of one of the three second-year Captains, as Logan Eldridge captured a 6-1, 6-2 win over Barbour in the No. 4 line. 

The match wrapped up, CNU closed out the shutout with the final four singles victories, including a big win for freshman McKinney Harwood at the No. 1 position, dropping Graf by a final score of 6-3, 6-2. Rookie Claire Dockrill closed out the day, finishing with a win over Hunter in the No. 5 spot, while Carlson and Huck also won at No. 3 and 6, respectively. 

The Captains are back in action this Saturday, February 21st as they host the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats, ranked ninth in the Atlantic South regional rankings.