Greenwood, SC – Local rival Lander University stopped Erskine’s win streak at nine with a 5-4 victory this afternoon at the Joe Cabri Tennis Center.  The loss drops the Flying Fleet to 11-3 on the season while the Bearcats improve to 7-4.

Erskine took an early lead winning two of the three doubles matches.  Lander won the first match point at #3 doubles with Eliza Adusumilli and Raissa Adusumilli beating Abby O'Reilly (Acworth, GA, Harrison High School) and Nikki Miller (Simpsonville, SC, Southside Christian School) 8-2.  Erskine wrapped up the other two doubles matches, highlighted by a convincing victory by Tessa Rheault (Levis, Quebec, Canada, Ecole Pointe Levy) and Mika Goyette (Brossard, Quebec, Ecole Secondaire De Mortagne) at #1 doubles with their 8-1 victory over Aurelia Fell and Caitlin Ruffert.

The Bearcats won four of the six singles matches to pull the upset victory 5-4.  The match remained in doubt until the final match was decided.  Erskine’s Corin Hallman (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) put the Fleet up 3-1 when Lander’s Brandi Cordell retired due to injury.  Lander tied the match by winning #2 and #5 singles behind Aurelia Ruffert and Cayce Bradley’s straight set victories over Rheault and Victoria Stephens (Cumming, GA, South Forsyth High School).   Erskine’s Mika Goyette (Brossard, Quebec, Ecole Secondaire De Mortagne) won a crucial match over 6-2, 6-3 over Nicola James to put Erskine up 4-3.  Unfortunately, the Bearcats won the remaining two singles matches at #3 and #6 to win the match.  Eliza Adusumilli defeated O’Reilly in straight sets at 6-4, 6-2 at #3 singles and in a very close match Raissa Adusumilli slipped by April Horne (Columbia, SC, Brookland-Cayce High School) 6-4, 6-4 to win the match 5-4.

Erskine will take a short break before heading to Hilton Head Island over spring break next week to play three matches.

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