SURPRISE, Ariz. — Mississippi College women's tennis is headed to the NCAA South Regional final after rallying past Columbus State 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club.
The No. 7 seed Lady Choctaws (27-1) dropped the doubles point to No. 8 seed Columbus State (21-5), but answered with a dominant performance in singles play by winning four completed courts to secure the victory.
MC quickly flipped the momentum in singles competition. Mississippi College senior Emily Buchanan battled to a straight-set win at No. 1 singles, defeating nationally-ranked Nikoline Gullacksen 7-6, 7-5 after taking a tightly-contested opening set tiebreak. Rocio Martinez added another point at No. 2 singles with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Anna Hudson continued the surge at No. 4 singles, cruising to a 6-4, 6-1 win over Sofia Lauretti, while Rune Van Wyk clinched the match for the Lady Choctaws at No. 5 singles with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 performance.
Columbus State claimed the doubles point after victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. MC's lone doubles win came from Van Wyk and Katharina Weber at No. 3 doubles, where the duo earned a 6-2 decision.
Two singles matches remained unfinished when the Lady Choctaws secured the deciding fourth point.
With the win, Mississippi College advances to face No. 4 seed Catawba College in the next round of the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship bracket on Friday beginning at 11 a.m. CST (9 a.m. MST) in Surprise, Arizona.
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