Jackson, MS – The Millsaps Women's Tennis team secured an intense, back and forth victory over Berry for their first conference win of the season.
 
Saturday's home match also marks a new milestone for Millsaps Women's Tennis, as the Majors defeated Berry for the first time since joining the Southern Athletic Association.  Millsaps gained a great deal of early momentum with big wins at the doubles one and three spots and later clinched the close match at the sixth spot in singles play.
 
The Majors held a 2-1 early lead thanks to the excellent play at the doubles one and three spot.  The duo of Ashley Ford and Audrey Bennett got things started with an 8-4 win at the one spot.  Anna Brahce and Tori Barbier then secured a win at the three spot 8-2 while the Vikings earned an 8-4 win at the two spot.
 
From there, Ford and Bennett continued their outstanding play with wins at the singles one and two spots.  Berry, however, answered with wins at the three, four and five spots to tie the match 4-4. 
 
The match would be decided in the singles six spot, as Reya Hayek got things started with a 6-1 first set win.  Her opponent then answered winning the second set 6-3 to send the intense matchup to a match deciding third and final set.
 
After the second set loss Hayek responded well with a solid 6-4, third set win – clinching the match and first conference win of the season for Millsaps.
 
The close 5-4 victory improves Women's Tennis to 11-4 and gives the Majors a great deal of positive momentum, as they face another conference home matchup tomorrow, April 3rd.
 
The Majors will play Oglethorpe for the final match of the weekend.  Opening play against the Stormy Petrels is set to begin at 9:00 am.

Millsaps    vs    Berry
Location:  Millsaps College

Doubles
1.  Ashley Ford / Audrey Bennett    vs    Mary Cerny / Lauren Byrket    Millsaps 8-4
2.  Reya Hayek / Jordyn Kanak    vs    Kaliegh Carpenter / Heidi Seabaugh    Berry 8-4
3.  Anna Brahce / Tori Barbier    vs    Kelsey McCray / Valerie DeWandel    Millsaps 8-2

Singles
1.  Ashley Ford    vs    Mar Cerny    Millsaps 6-2, 6-4
2.  Audrey Bennett    vs    Lauren Byrket    Millsaps 6-2, 6-3
3.  Jordyn Kanak    vs    Kaleigh Carpenter    Berry 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-5
4.  Mary Claiborne-Sharpe    vs    Heidi Seabaugh    Berry 6-1, 6-1
5.  Tori Barbier    vs    Kelsey McCray    Berry 6-4, 6-3
6.  Reya Hayek    vs    Valerie DeWandel    Millsaps 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

Final Score:

Millsaps    5        Berry    4