Tennis team makes history

November 6, 2006 —

Several GLIAC records were set with the SVSU women's tennis team's victory over Mercyhurst in the GLIAC tournament last weekend.

The eighth-seeded Cardinals' 5-3 victory over the fourth-seeded Lakers in the second round was the highest ever for a No. 8 seed, and was also the greatest upset in terms of seed differential since the team tournament format began at the beginning of the decade.

SVSU would go on to lose its next match, 5-1 to seventh-seeded Wayne State. The sixth-place finish was the highest for an eighth-seeded team in the tournament's history.

The Cardinals took four and a half hours to take out the Lakers, making several comebacks in doubles play.

Down 1-4 in No. 1 doubles and 0-4 in No. 2 doubles, SVSU came back for 8-6 and 9-8 (7-5) wins, respectively.

Sophomore Katie Hanover, who was selected as an honorable mention to the All-GLIAC team this season, avenged a 6-2, 6-1 loss in No. 1 singles earlier in the season to win 6-4, 6-2. Sophomore Danielle Coldren won a three-set match in No. 3 singles, and redshirt freshman Maria Perez-Valencia clinched the Cardinals victory with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 win in No. 4 singles.

The Cardinals' first match against Mercyhurst this year was a 7-2 Lakers victory.