The Oglethorpe women's tennis team returned from some time off and got back on the winning track with a 9-0 win over Covenant on a cold and blustery day on the Howell Courts Tuesday.

 

The Stormy Petrels swept the doubles matches to take an early 3-0 lead, although it wasn't easy. After senior Caroline Johnson and sophomore Hannah Datillo won 8-3 at No. 1, the No. 3 duo of sophomore Taylor Crawford and junior Charlotte Disley picked up a hard-fought 8-6 win. At No. 2 doubles, the tandem of junior Shannon Cruz and senior Halley Sickling fought back from a 6-2 deficit to grind out a 9-7 win.

 

The Petrels also swept singles, with five of the six matches won in straight sets. At the No. 5 slot, Sickling dropped the first set 6-4, but just as she did in doubles, fought back to earn a 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-3) win. At No. 6, junior Delaney Abood fought back from deficits in both sets to win 7-5, 7-5. The Petrels mostly made quick work of the other matches, but Johnson did have to tough out a 7-5 second set to clinch her match, while Cranford won the first set 7-5 at No. 4 before blanking her opponent in the second set. Cruz won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3.

 

Head Coach Peter Howell commented after the match, "I was a little worried about how we would play after a long layoff. However, we took a couple of close doubles matches to give us some momentum heading into singles. The wind was really tough today, but we adjusted and are pleased to come out with the victory."

 

With the win, the Petrels improve their record to 3-4 on the year. They will be back in action on Friday, when they head to nearby Decatur to take on Agnes Scott at 3:30 p.m.