GREENCASTLE, Ind. - The 11th-ranked Trinity University women's tennis team defeated seventh-ranked and defending champions Washington & Lee University, 5-4, in first round play of the 2013 ITA Division III National Women's Team Indoor Championships Friday afternoon at the DePauw Indoor Tennis and Track Center on the campus of DePauw University. Match Results | Bracket | Official Website
Competing in the Indoor Championships for the first time in program history, Trinity won in dramatic fashion in Friday's ITA opener.
With the match knotted at 4-4, first-year player Kristy Hamilton (pictured left) gutted out a 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles over W&L's Cameron Dorsey to clinch the match and advance the Tigers to Saturday's semifinal round.
Trinity will take on fifth-ranked Carnegie-Mellon University, who defeated Skidmore College, 8-1 earlier in the day, at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday.
"We knew that Washington & Lee is a tough team," explained Trinity head coach Jacob McMindes. "I really wanted our team to go out there and enjoy the moment, but also not just be happy to be here. We made things tough on ourselves by getting down 2-1 after doubles. I think this match really helped us find our identity. We showed our toughness in being able to weather the storm."
After dropping two of the three doubles points, Trinity rebounded with wins by Thavindra Ekanayake at No. 2 singles (6-2, 4-6, 7-5), Kylie Hornbeck at No. 3 singles (6-3, 6-2), and Caroline White at No. 4 singles (6-4, 7-5) to even the match at 4-4 - before Hamilton came through with the victory at No. 6 singles.
With the win, Trinity improved to 3-5 on the season while Washington & Lee drops to 1-1.
Three of Trinity's losses this season have come against Top 50 squads from NCAA Division II, including No. 3 Abilene Christian. The Tigers have three singles players in the West Region singles rankings in fourth-ranked Mackenzie Knoop, 15th-ranked Thavindra Ekanayake, and 20th-ranked Kylie Hornbeck. Knoop and Ekanayake are also one of the best pairs in the region in doubles, checking in at third, while Caroline White and Kristy Hamilton sit at 14th.
