NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- As the Natalie Pitts Invitational waged on through the day on Thursday the Eyre Courts were host to some of the best Division III women's tennis teams in the nation. That included a 2:00 p.m. matchup between 18th-ranked Case Western Reserve (6-2) and the host Captains, ranked No. 25 in the nation, that came down to a thrilling tiebreaking finish. The Spartans clipped the Captains, 4-3, after the final four sets were stretched to a seventh game in singles play.
With the loss, CNU slipped to 4-6 on the season with their first setback at home this year.
The match started with CWRU capturing the imperative doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3.
Kendal Chang and
Kylie Schaefer earned a 6-3 win for the Captains on the top line, but the visitors squeaked out a 7-5 win at No. 3 that clinched the team point.
After taking a 1-0 lead, the Spartans sprinted to a 3-0 advantage with the first two wins in singles action. From there, though, the Captains showed off its grit with an exciting comeback.
At No. 2, junior
Kylie Schaefer rebounded from a first set loss against Katie Wong to secure the first team point of the day for the Captains. Schaefer finished off Wong in a 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 final to trim the lead to 3-1. Then, rookie
Emma Carver outlasted her opponent, Prachi Shah, at No. 5 with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over three sets.
Sophomore
Lindsey Bergelin then tied the match up with a win at No. 6 against Trisha Vellanki, escaping a third set tiebreaker with the win to knot the match at 3-3. Bergelin captured a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win against Vellanki to keep CNU in contention.
The final match of the day also came down to a third-set tiebreaker as CNU senior
Eva Taylor battled back-and-forth with Gabby Lee at No. 4. Taylor, who clinched the win against nationally-ranked Whitman the day prior, forced extra points but was edged out by Lee in a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) final.
The Captains will continue the Natalie Pitts Memorial Invitational on Saturday with four more matches on the outdoor courts. CNU will take on No. 15 Tufts University at 2:00 p.m.
