Trojans defeat Erskine in rivalry match

MOUNT OLIVE – In a rematch of the 2022 Conference Carolinas final, the No. 43 nationally-ranked University of Mount Olive women’s tennis team upset No. 33 nationally-ranked Erskine 4-3 on March 31 at John Neal Walker Tennis Center.

With the win, UMO continued its winning streak and improved to 5-0 in conference play with a 9-9 overall record. Meanwhile, Erskine dropped its first conference match to fall to 5-1 in league action and 10-4 this season.

The Trojans captured the doubles point by sweeping all three sessions. In No. 1 doubles, the No. 48 nationally-ranked team of senior Liza Voloshyna and junior Nele Weber finished with a 6-4 win against Emma Bentz and Luize Valtere before senior Ingrid Montserrat and freshman Oriana Izarra beat Ariana Jativa and Teodora Stefanovic 6-4 in second doubles. In the third position, junior Jessica Aylward and freshman Laura Servien overcame Czarina Aguirre and Hanna Vasconez with a score of 7-6 (7-2).

Mount Olive sealed the team victory by winning three matches in singles play. In the first position, Montserrat suffered a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Bentz, before Voloshyna replied with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Jativa in the second slot. In No. 3 singles, Izarra triumphed over Valtere 6-2, 6-3. In fourth singles, Weber clinched the match with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 victory over Stefanovic. In the fifth spot, Servien fell to Aguirre by a 7-5, 6-4 margin, before Aylward lost to Vasconez with a 6-2, 6-2 count.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics