Erskine beats Mount Olive 5-2 for first NCAA women’s tennis win

FLORENCE, SC – Senior Kacie Knox and sophomore Britton Bignon picked up a key doubles win at the No. 1 position and helped 36th-ranked Erskine College to a 5-2 win over Mount Olive College, Thursday afternoon (May 7) in the opening match of the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Southeast Regional in Florence, S.C.

Erskine picks up its first-ever NCAA Tournament win and improves to 17-7. The Flying Fleet advance to face seventh-ranked Francis Marion University (18-4) in a regional semifinal match, Friday at 10 a.m. on FMU’s Kassab Courts. Eighth-ranked Columbus State University (20-3) will meet 29th-ranked Georgia College & State University (9-10) in the second semifinal match on Friday at 2 p.m.

The regional final is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

After Erskine won easily (8-1) at No. 3 doubles and Mount Olive claimed an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles, it was left to Knox and Bignon to try and give Erskine the lead heading into singles play. The pair led 6-3 only to have Mount Olive’s Carol Aro and Jessica Souza rallied to knot the match at 6-6. The Erskine duo then regrouped to win the next two games and the match 8-6, giving the Flying Fleet a 2-1 advantage.

Knox, who was deeply praised by Erskine coach Calhoun Parr after the match, then won in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) at No. 4 singles. The Erskine advantage grew to 4-2 when Bignon won 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 2 spot.

Aro gave Mount Olive its second point with a 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles, but shortly thereafter, Erskine freshman Nicole Miller claimed a 6-4, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 position to push the Flying Fleet into the regional semifinals.

“I am very proud and excited,” said Parr after the match. “This is our program’s first-ever NCAA win. It was a team effort, the squad showed a lot of mental toughness, and represented Erskine College well.

“Obviously the win at No. 1 doubles was huge. Kacie and Britton had lost that match in both previous meetings with Mount Olive this year. They both stepped up and played some of their best tennis of the season. And then what a win for a freshman (Nicole Miller) to earn the deciding point.”

Mount Olive, making just its second NCAA Tournament appearance, ends its year with a 12-11 mark.