CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens’ 40th-ranked women’s tennis team (9-0, 19-1) looks to avenge their loss in the Conference Carolinas Finals to No. 47 Erskine College (9-1, 18-7) when they meet for the third time this season on Thursday afternoon in the first round of NCCA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament held in Savannah, Georgia.
The Royals split the season series 1-1 with the Flying Fleet, with each team holding serve on their home court.
Winning the first match, 5-4, the Royals showed great resilience after losing two-of-three doubles matches, including their top two flights to start the match.
Down 1-4, Queens rallied around their lower flights as No. 3
Amanda Poole (Douglasville, Ga., South Paulding), No. 4
Christina Engelberth (Stockholm, Sweden, Pendleton School IMG), and No. 6
Kaitlyn Blakey (Keller, Texas, Keller) all picked up wins, combining to take 36 of the 53 games.
The climax of the afternoon came during No. 5
Morgan Roberts' (Fort Pierce, Fla., Treasure Coast) match, as she outlasted the Flying Fleets Victoria Stephens 7-6, (9-7), 7-6, (7-3) to clinch the Royals' 10th consecutive win en route to the conference regular season championship.
Riding a 19-0 record into the conference tournament championship, the Royals couldn’t complete their magical run as they fell 5-3 to the Flying Fleet.
Elena Mileva (Sofia, Bulgaria, First Private English Language School) made a statement in the loss, defeating the conference Player of the Year Tessa Rheault in straight sets (6-0, 6-4).
Engleberth also had a strong performance in the championship match, defeating Nikki Miller in the fifth flight before teaming up with Williams to shutout the conference Freshman of the Year Abby O’Reilly and Stephens in the second flight of doubles action.
Head coach Brett Karpman believes the loss has been helpful during the Royals’ preparation for the regional tournament.
“This group has been very focused and hungry since the conference tournament and has been working very hard.”
Playing in the regional tournament for the first time during Karpman's three-year reign, he is enthusiastic about the experience his team will gain in the tournament.
“Experiencing NCAA play for such a young team (four freshmen, two sophomores) will aid our development.”
The winner will advance into the second round to face the weekend host, Armstrong Atlantic University, on Friday afternoon.