The Emory University women's tennis team closed out its fall season at the Wofford Terrier Invitational this weekend in Spartanburg, SC. The Eagles competed among a field of Division I opponents from Arkansas State, Furman, Gardner Webb, Kennesaw State, Presbyterian College, Radford, UNC Asheville, and host Wofford College.
After opening with a two-hour rain delay, the Eagles dominated by winning four out of five matches in the opening round of doubles. Regional champions, Alexa Goetz and Xuanjin Li, bested Kennesaw State's Muzik and Lee by a narrow margin 7-6 (3) to advance to the semifinals of the Gold draw. Pairings Christina Watson/Eliza McPherron and Mina Toglukdemir/Emma Cartledge both advanced to the semifinals of the Black draw; Watson/McPherron with a 6-2 win over Gardner Webb and Toglukdemir/Cartledge with a 6-4 win over Wofford College. Senior Lauren Yoon and sophomore Sam Falcon brought home the final win of the day with a close 7-5 victory over UNC Asheville's Byers and Morkel to advance to the semifinals of the Gray draw. Singles matches were delayed to the following day due to rain.
On Saturday, the Eagles saw four of the five doubles teams advance to the finals of their respective draws. Goetz and Li moved on to the finals of the Gold draw with a 6-4 win over Wofford College's Wilbur and Steryous. Watson/McPherron advanced by a narrow margin 7-6 (4) to the finals of the Black draw, where they were slated to meet teammates Toglukdemir and Cartledge who also advanced to the finals after saving seven match points against Kennesaw State's Kim and Pinedo to take the match, 7-6 (5). Yoon/Falcon dominated their way to the finals of the Gray draw with a 6-2 win over a team comprised of Radford and Presbyterian players.
In singles, Falcon, Li, and Toglukdemir led the charge, all advancing to the finals of their respective draws. Falcon cruised through the first round with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over UNC Asheville's Ari Siegel before battling out a tough three-setter against Arkansas State's Yasmine Humbert, 6-0, 3-6 (10-5) to move on to the finals of the Wofford draw. Li received a bye in the first round and fought her way to the finals of the Prevail draw with a 1-6, 6-4 (10-7) over Presbyterian's Beth Lacey. Toglukdemir fought her way to the finals of the White draw, with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win in the first round and a tough 3-6, 6-2 (10-8) victory over Wofford's Georgia Fischer in the semis.
On Sunday, the Eagles closed out the tournament winning two of the doubles draws, as Li/Goetz fought out a tough 7-6 (4) victory over UNC Asheville's Dickson and Dougah in the finals of the Gold draw. Toglukdemir/Cartledge took out teammates Watson/McPherron 6-2 to take the Black draw.
In singles, Toglukdemir and Falcon both won their respective singles draws, with Toglukdemir grinding out a 2-6, 6-3 10-8 victory over Arkansas State's Emily Surcey to win the White draw, and Falcon taking out Wofford's Ansley Hardeman 6-4 6-2 to win the Wofford draw.
The Eagles now enter the off-season and will return in February 2022.