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Southwestern University

Women's Tennis Closes Regular Season With Win Over Trinity

Southwestern University
7
Trinity University
2

Doubles

Flores, Megan / Cushing, Catherine (TU_WTEN)
def. Esther Bowers / Nina Elez (SW)
8-4
Kaffen, Zoe / Kaffen, Mary (TU_WTEN)
def. Mariana Quetzeri / Taylor Despriet (SW)
8-4
Alli Ziehm / Emma Kesterson (SW)
def. Markiewicz, Nichole / Richard, Elodie (TU_WTEN)
8-5

Singles

Nina Mitrofanova (SW)
def. Kaffen, Zoe (TU_WTEN)
6-0, 6-1
Esther Bowers (SW)
def. Flores, Megan (TU_WTEN)
7-5, 6-0
Emma Kesterson (SW)
def. Cushing, Catherine (TU_WTEN)
6-2, 6-2
Sydney Wahl (SW)
def. Kaffen, Mary (TU_WTEN)
6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Nina Elez (SW)
def. Richard, Elodie (TU_WTEN)
6-2, 7-5
Alli Ziehm (SW)
def. Garcia, Paulina (TU_WTEN)
6-2, 6-3
full stats
Photo by Carlos Barron.
Photo by Carlos Barron.
Posted: Apr 17, 2021

SAN ANTONIO — When last season was cut short, the Southwestern women's tennis team finished higher than Trinity in the national rankings for the first time in program history. However, the two conference rivals did not get a chance to compete head-to-head. 

Today, on the final day of the regular season, the Pirates earned a 7-2 victory over the Tigers on the road in a potential preview of next weekend's SCAC Championships.

"Beating them for the first time in program history is special. I'm so proud of them," head coach Billy Porter said. "This senior class suffered heartbreak against them when they were freshmen, so I couldn't be happier for them." 

Trinity's supremacy in doubles remained the biggest separator between the two programs in recent years. They showed their mettle again by picking up wins over Esther Bowers and Nina Elez, and Mariana Quetzeri and Taylor Despriet in the first two spots. 

Alli Ziehm and Emma Kesterson closed doubles with a big 8-5 victory over Nichole Markiewicz and Elodie Richard in No. 3 doubles to avoid the sweep. 

"Emma and Alli gave us a crucial point to avoid the doubles sweep," Porter said. "It was the first time in eight years we have ever scored a doubles point off of them in a dual match." 

That small foothold was enough for Southwestern to seize momentum, sweeping singles. Mitrofanova opened singles with a big 6-0, 6-1 win over Zoe Kaffen in the top spot. Bowers took a hard-fought 7-5 first set against Megan Flores, then sailed to a 6-0 victory in the second to win No. 2 singles. Kesterson followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Catherine Cushing in No. 3 singles. 

Ziehm clinched the match for Southwestern with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Paulina Garcia in No. 6 singles. Elez followed with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Elodie Richard in No. 5 singles, and Sydney Wahl finished Southwestern's perfect run in singles with a three-set victory over Mary Kaffen (6-2, 1-6, 6-4). 

"All six girls deserve so much credit. They all found a way to manage their emotions and win their singles matches," Porter said. 

With the win, Southwestern closes the regular season with a 13-4 record. The Pirates won all six matches against conference opponents. Southwestern will compete in the SCAC Championships next weekend.