MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Millsaps women's tennis team made history on Sunday by claiming its first Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Tournament title. Top-seeded Millsaps (10-3) downed No 2-seed Centre (9-7) with a 5-1 triumph at the Adams Tennis Complex.
The Majors also secured a berth into the NCAA Atlantic South Regional set for mid-May. Additionally, senior
Grace Gaskins set an SAA record of her own by winning her 31st straight set at No. 1 singles in conference matches.
For the second straight day, the Majors jumped out to a 3-0 lead following doubles.
Marissa Brown and
Ella Shields scored the first point of the contest with an 8-2 winner on Court 3. This was promptly followed up on Court 1 by Gaskins and
Camille Fremaux with an identical 8-2 decision.
Maggie Dabadie and
Morris Kelly Clayton stepped up and showed their championship mettle on Court 2. The duo took a 3-0 lead to begin the matchup, but soon fell behind 4-3. They then took at 5-4 lead that was then answered by the Colonels. Millsaps was able to regain the edge again at 6-5 and broke serve for the seventh and decisive point. Clayton used a strong overhead at the net to force a Centre error.
Gaskins/Fremaux (8-0), Clayton/Dabadie (8-0) and Brown/Shields (7-0) all remained unbeaten in doubles. Incredibly, Millsaps finished its SAA slate with a perfect 24-0 doubles mark.
The Majors were then powered by Gaskins and Dabadie in singles to secure the final two points of the match. Gaskins continued to dominate with a 6-0, 6-1 win at Court 1. Dabadie fought her way to a 6-1, 6-2 triumph on Court 3 and make history for the Majors.
Gaskins moved to 8-0 in singles and Dabadie improved her standing to 7-1. Shields won her first set, 6-3 on Court 4 before the title was clinched. Caroline Lancaster defeated Clayton for the lone Colonel point.
Millsaps will now wait to see who they will face in the NCAA Atlantic South Regional scheduled for mid-May. Stay tuned to gomajors.com for updates as the NCAA makes official announcements of times and matchups.
SAA Women's Tennis All-Tournament
Maggie Dabadie – Millsaps (MVP)
Grace Gaskins – Millsaps
Morris Kelly Clayton – Millsaps
Ella Rueff – Centre
Caroline Stallings – Centre
Adelle Yanez – Berry
Emily Holderness – Rhodes
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Women's Doubles Results
Gaskins/Fremaux def. Hill/Rueff (Centre), 8-2
Dabadie/Clayton def. Doherty/Stallings (Centre), 8-7 (5)
Brown/Shields def. Sherman/Headley (Centre), 8-2
Women's Singles Results
Grace Gaskins def. Katharine Sherman (Centre), 6-0, 6-1
Camille Fremaux vs. Ella Rueff (Centre), 2-6, 4-5, unfinished
Maggie Dabadie def. Lainey Hill (Centre), 6-1, 6-2
Ella Shields vs. Hannah Doherty (Centre), 6-3, 2-5, unfinished
Marissa Brown vs. Caroline Stallings (Centre)
, 4-6, 4-3, unfinished
Caroline Lancaster (Centre) def.
Morris Kelly Clayton, 6-1, 6-2
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps women's tennis program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
