CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Belmont women's tennis team clinched a berth in this week's OVC Tournament with a 6-1 victory over Southeast Missouri State Sunday afternoon in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The Bruins earned the first point of the match as they won two of the three doubles matches. After BU won by default at number three, they clinched the doubles point at number two as Catherine Holliday and Natalia Nunes beat Lauren Schaper and Sarah Uptmor 8-0.
In singles, Belmont took a 3-0 lead as Natalia Nunes and Ann Lauren Fiepke won by default ay positions five and six. Then, Bu posted wins at positions two, three, and four to clinch the 6-1 road victory. Catherine Holliday won at number two over Jessica Courtnell 7-6, 6-3, while Carolyn Caire beat Sarah Liptmor at number three 6-0, 6-0. Fabiana Mersan closed out the match with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Lauren Schaper at number four.
With the victory, Belmont (9-9, 5-5) earns a berth into this week's OVC Tournament in Paducah, Kentucky. It is the first time the program has qualified for a conference tournament since 2008. As the #6 seed, they will open tournament play on Friday morning at 10:00am against #3 seed Murray State.
