RALEIGH, N.C. - The Meredith Avenging Angels hosted the Randolph Wildcats on Wednesday afternoon and started off the spring season with a 5-4 win. 

Randolph jumped to an early lead, winning at both No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Hannah Higgins and Claire Southern came through for Meredith with a crucial point at No. 2 doubles, winning the match 8-4. 

The Angels then went down 3-1 when Ellie Osborne lost at No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-0). But Meredith came back winning in straight sets at .No 4 (Claire Southern), No. 5 (Hannah Jo Jablonski), and No. 6 (Ellie Phillips). Ryann Jennings dropped a closely fought match at No. 3 singles (7-6, 6-4). With the match tied at 4-4, the deciding match came down to Hannah Higgins at No. 2 singles.

With all of the other matches wrapped up, teammates from both sides lined up to watch and cheer on every point, with the winner of this match to decide the outcome of the overall match. Higgins won the first set 6-4 and it was back and forth in the second set. With the sun and temperatures dropping, Higgins held her serve to go up 5-4. She broke her opponent's serve at 30-40 to win the match. 

After the match, head coach Eric Douglass had this to say, "we have been talking all pre-season about the importance of winning 2 out of 3 doubles points to take pressure off our singles matches. We came up short in doubles today (being down 1-2 heading into the singles), but the bottom of our line-up came through, all winning in straight sets. Ryann (Jennings) lost a heartbreaker at No. 3 singles to tie the match at 4-4. But Higgins came through like a champ to win the match for us. That was a big win not only for the team but for her confidence. I'm proud of her and all the girls for how they fought today."

Meredith is back in action at home on Saturday, February 24 at 1 p.m. vs. Roanoke College.