Women's Tennis | 5/4/2015 11:34:00 PM

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - After a season that featured significant improvements from the previous year, a shattered school record for all-time singles victories and a second-place finish in the Heartland Conference, the 37^th-ranked St. Edward's Women's Tennis team's season came to an end Monday afternoon as they lost to #14 Midwestern State, 5-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
St. Edward's (11-9) tried to scratch a point across in the doubles portion of the match at the No. 1 spot. The talented combination of BROOKE HUGHES and Sasha Khadzyhan gave the 25^th-ranked doubles pairing in the nation all they could handle, but Taylor Coffman and Kayla Casey narrowly escaped with an 8-6 decision. Ivava Zecevic and FRANCESCA CHAHER took the court at No. 2 doubles for the Hilltoppers, but lost to the team of Lauren Pineda and Lindsay Nochowicz, 8-2. Number three doubles went to the Mustangs as well, as RAFAELA HAEGELE and MARISSA WILLIAMS tried to muster a late comeback attempt against Madeline Schorlemmer and Paige Boykin. Despite their efforts, Haegele and Williams were defeated 8-4 and the Hilltoppers trailed 3-0 going into the singles portion of the match.
 
As singles play rolled around, the Hilltoppers needed to win five matches to secure a victory. Midwestern took the advantage early as SUMMER BIGGS was defeated by Boykin, 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 5 spot. Midwestern would clinch the match with a victory at No. 2 singles as RAFAELA HAEGELE dropped a tough decision to Coffman 6-4, 6-1. It could have been a little closer than the final score indicated as Khadzhyan was one game away of sending her match to a third set, while Zecevic was deadlocked, 5-5 in the second set looking for a decisive third.
 
St. Edward's finishes its season with a National ranking of #37 and an 11-9 overall record. They graduate five seniors in SUMMER BIGGS, FRANCESCA CHAHER, RAFAELA HAEGELE, BROOKE HUGHES and Sasha Khadzyhan.