TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—The Transylvania University women's tennis team came up just short in its regular season finale, dropping a tough 5-4 decision against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Engineers.
The Pioneers won the first doubles match of the day behind the strong duo of Megan Dixon and Claire Mielcarek, taking the contest 8-4. The Pioneers would struggle in the remaining doubles competitions, however, as Jenna Nidiffer and Jessica Shotwell fell in their matchup 8-5 and Lillian Williams and Emily Fulkerson dropped their contest 8-2.
In singles action, Mielcarek and Dixon delivered again, each picking up wins for the Transy. Mielcarek split the first two sets of her contest 6-4, 6-1, before winning the tiebreaker 10-3. Dixon notched an easy victory in her singles match, winning 6-1, 6-2. Kearstin Bruther added another three-set victory for the Pioneers in singles play, winning 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. Transylvania lost the remaining singles matches with Williams losing 3-6, 1-6, Fulkerson falling 0-6, 0-6, and Myriah Porter going down 1-6, 1-6.
"It was a tough match to lose, we were right there," said head coach Chuck Brown. "The girls played hard and should be ready to go for their next match."
Despite the loss, Transylvania earned a berth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament as the five-seed. The Pioneers will battle Rose-Hulman again in the opening round on Oct. 16 at 6:30pm.
