Burlington, N.C. – The Meredith tennis team faced #1 Methodist University in the USA South conference tournament final on Sunday.  The Monarchs took the match 6-3 and gain the conference automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.  

The Avenging Angels fell behind early in doubles as the Monarchs took the early 3-0 lead.  At number one, Ashley Pearsall and Mary Lawrence Newton fell 8-2 to Kaitlin Flaherty and Katherine Meindl.  #2 Betty Edwards and Mollie Musgrave lost to Rachel Purser and Dana Powell 8-2 and #3 Puja Patel and Zannah Webster dropped 8-4 to Stacey Brooks and Laura Baker.

The two teams split in singles play.  Meredith took matches at the number one spot with Patel winning easily 6-2, 6-2, #2 Pearsall winning (4-6, 6-1, 8-10) and #5 Musgrave 6-3, 4-6, 10-7.  

Patel was undefeated in the tournament and earned MVP honors.

Meredith completes their season with a 11-9 overall record and a 7-1 in conference play.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Rachel Purser - Methodist
Mollie Musgrave - Meredith
Kelli Shelton - Methodist
Ashley Pearsall - Meredith
Kaitlin Flaherty - Methodist
Puja Patel - Meredith (MVP)

Tennis Match Results

#2 Meredith vs #1 Methodist

Apr 17, 2011 at Burlington, NC

#1 Methodist 6, #2 Meredith 3

 Singles competition 

1. PATEL, Puja (MER) def. FLAHERTY, Kaitlin (MUW) 6-2, 6-2

2. PEARSALL, Ashley (MER) def. MEINDL, Katherine (MUW) 6-4, 1-6, 10-8

3. PURSER, Rachel (MUW) def. NEWTON,Mary Lawrence (MER) 6-4, 6-2

4. BAKER, Laura (MUW) def. EDWARDS, Betty (MER) 6-3, 6-2

5. MUSGRAVE, Mollie (MER) def. POWELL, Dana (MUW) 6-3, 4-6, 10-7

6. SHELTON, Kelli (MUW) def. KEY, Christa (MER) 6-0, 6-2

 Doubles competition 

1. FLAHERTY, Kaitlin/MEINDL, Katherine (MUW) def. PEARSALL, Ashley/NEWTON,Mary Lawrence (MER) 8-2

2. PURSER, Rachel/POWELL, Dana (MUW) def. EDWARDS, Betty/MUSGRAVE, Mollie (MER) 8-2

3. BROOKS, Stacey/BAKER, Laura (MUW) def. PATEL, Puja/WEBSTER, Zannah (MER) 8-4

Match Notes:

#2 Meredith 11-9

#1 Methodist 24-1

2011 USA South Women's Tennis Tournament Finals

A-100