DALLAS, Texas -- The second-seeded and 45th-ranked Southwestern University women advanced to their eighth straight title match with a 5-1 victory over Colorado College in the semifinal round of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis Championship Saturday afternoon on the Ruth & Ken Altshuler indoor courts at the Brookshire Family Pavilion on the campus of SMU. Official Website | Postmatch Interview | Photo Album
Southwestern improved its record to 14-9 and advances to face top-seeded Trinity University in tomorrow’s championship match. First serve for Sunday’s championship match is scheduled for 2 pm CT.
The Colorado College women drop to 7-13 on the season after advancing to the program’s third-straight semifinal. It marks second time in program history the women’s tennis program has made three-straight semifinal appearances.
Southwestern jumped out to a 3-0 lead, sweeping the doubles highlighted by an impressive 8-3 win at the top doubles line from Mary Young and Erika Synoski.
The Pirates jumped out to a 4-0 lead after Kimberly Duncan secured a 6-1, 6-3 win at the six singles line. Colorado College pushed back, making it 4-1 after Christina Heffron took down Daryl Locke at the No. 2 singles like in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Southwestern secured its spot in the SCAC final when senior Sydney Wahl battled back in the second set to ultimately clinch the match winning 6-5, 7-5 at No. 4 singles.
SOUTHWESTERN UUNIVERSITY 5, COLORADO COLLEGE 1
April 27, 2024 at Dallas, Texas (Ruth & Ken Altshuler Indoor Courts)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Mary Young (SU) vs. Kala Komanduri (COLO) 5-7, 1-2, unfinished |
| 2. Erika Synoski (SU) vs. Avery Hickman (COLO) 6-3, 4-6, 3-4, unfinished |
| 3. Christina Heffron (COLO) def. Daryl Locke (SU) 6-4, 6-2 |
| 4. Sydney Wahl (SU) def. Lindsay Popeo (COLO) 6-4, 7-5 |
| 5. Valeria Gracia (SU) vs. Gigi Jensen (COLO) 4-6, 6-2, 2-0, unfinished |
| 6. Kimberly Duncan (SU) def. Elizabeth Girian (COLO) 6-1, 6-3 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Mary Young/Erika Synoski (SU) def. Kala Komanduri/Avery Hickman (COLO) 8-3 |
| 2. Daryl Locke/Kimberly Duncan (SU) def. Lindsay Popeo/Christina Heffron (COLO) 8-5 |
| 3. Sydney Wahl/Valeria Gracia (SU) def. Abby Wilson/Sydney Vine (COLO) 8-6 |
| Match Notes |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (,6,3,4) |
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Southwestern is making its eighth straight trip to the conference finals (the 2020 championships were canceled due to COVID), which includes the 2021 tournament when the Pirates won their first and only SCAC women's tennis title with a 5-4 victory over Trinity.
