STRONG DOUBLES PLAY NOT ENOUGH TO ADVANCE WOMEN’S TENNIS

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BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Despite claiming the doubles point, Radford could not prevent Liberty's rally in singles as the Flames notched a 4-1 come-from-behind victory Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Big South Women's Tennis Championship at the Webb Tennis Complex on the campus of Gardner-Webb University.

With the win, Liberty (15-8) advance to the semifinals for the fifth-straight year and seventh overall. The Highlanders end their first year under head coach Martin Sayer at 10-13.

"We executed our game plan in doubles, but just got beaten by a better singles team today," Sayer said. "Our team has a lot to be proud of from this season. We have laid a solid foundation moving forward."

After dropping the decision at No. 3 doubles, RU needed wins at the top two flights to secure the 1-0 edge. Taylor Newman and Gemma Valls broke serve twice in the late stages to seal an 8-5 triumph over Rebekah Jenkins and Maria Khval at the top position.

The doubles match on court two went to a 7-point tiebreaker. Meg Napolitano and Grace Sarver trailed 6-3 before they erupted for five-straight points to clinch the doubles point, 8-7 (8-6), over Belen Rivera and Brittany Yang. The winning point was a beauty as Sarver ripped a backhand right between the Liberty duo to send the Radford contingent into jubilation.

However, the Highlanders could not sustain their momentum in singles. Newman was the only Radford player to win a first set out of the six singles tilts.

Liberty (4) def. Radford (1)
Webb Tennis Complex (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Doubles competition
1. Taylor Newman / Gemma Valls (RU) def. Rebekah Jenkins / Maria Khval (LU), 8-5
2. Meg Napolitano / Grace Sarver (RU) def. Belen Rivera / Brittany Yang (LU), 8-7 (8-6)
3. Cameron Richard / Valerie Thong (LU) def. Gisela Garcia / Taylor Fay (RU), 8-1

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*

Singles competition
1. Belen Rivera (LU) def. Gemma Valls (RU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Taylor Newman (RU) vs. Rebekah Jenkins (LU), 7-6 (7-5), 1-3 (unfinished)
3. Maria Khval (LU) def. Meg Napolitano (RU), 6-1, 6-4
4. Brittany Yang (LU) def. Grace Sarver (RU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Mariely Hassey (LU) def. Gisela Garcia (RU), 6-1, 6-1
6. Nicola Wellman (LU) vs. Sara Andrade (RU), 6-1, 4-3 (unfinished)

Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 1*

Match Notes
Radford (10-13)
Liberty (15-8)

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