CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In the quarterfinals of the 2024 Southern Conference Championship, the Wofford College women's tennis team was defeated 4-2 by Mercer at the Champions Club on Thursday. The #5 seed Bears won the doubles point in a tiebreaker over the #4 seed Terriers and then won three of the six singles matches to advance in the tournament.
 
After a delay of over two hours due to weather, the doubles action began. Mercer earned a 6-1 win over Wofford at the #3 position, but the Terriers answered with a 6-3 win at the #1 position by Lily Woods and Grace Agster. At #2 doubles, Breda Brennan and Brianna Wilbur had the match tied at 4-4 before taking a 5-4 lead. The Bears won the next two games for a 6-5 lead, but Wofford broke serve for a 6-6 tie. In the tiebreaker, Mercer never trailed and won 7-5 to take the doubles point.
 
In singles play, each team won the first set in three matches. Lily Woods earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at the #3 position for the Terriers. Mercer then won at #2 singles by a 7-6, 7-5 score. Catherine Blouin added a 6-4, 6-2 win at the #6 position to tie the overall match at 2-2. Mercer took a 3-2 lead after taking the #5 singles position 7-6, 6-2.
 
Matches at #1 and #4 singles went to a third set. At #1 singles, Wofford's Breda Brennan faced Teodora Ristic, both of whom earned All-SoCon first team honors. Ristic won the first set 6-3, but Brennan won the second set 6-2. In the third set, Ristic took a 1-0 lead before it was tied at 3-3. Mercer was up 5-4 and held serve to close out the match 6-4, which clinched the overall contest.   
 
The #4 singles match saw Emely Kahrs win the first set 6-2 before Mercer won the second set 7-5. With the third set tied at 1-1, Kahrs won four straight games to take a 5-1 lead. The match was unfinished with Kahrs leading 5-2.
 
"It was a hard-fought match today and I give credit to the way Mercer played," said head coach Krissy Hall. "I am so proud of each and every one of the ladies on our team. We had a great season overall."
 
Wofford ends the season at 14-7 overall. The 14 overall wins are the most in school history, topping the 13 wins in 2006 and 2019. Mercer improves to 14-7 overall.
 
Doubles Results
1. Grace Agster/Lily Woods (WOF) def. Lea Falentin/Emi Cosatto (MER) 6-3
2. Teodora Ristic/Marina Quinones (MER) def. Breda Brennan/Brianna Wilbur (WOF) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Mariella Minetti/Tea Zivic (MER) def. Catherine Blouin/Emely Kahrs (WOF) 6-1
 
Singles Results
1. Teodora Ristic (MER) def. Breda Brennan (WOF) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
2. Lea Falentin (MER) def. Brianna Wilbur (WOF) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
3. Lily Woods (WOF) def. Emi Cosatto (MER) 6-1, 6-1
4. Emely Kahrs (WOF) vs. Marina Quinones (MER) 6-2, 5-7, 5-2, unfinished
5. Mariella Minetti (MER) def. Grace Agster (WOF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
6. Catherine Blouin (WOF) def. Tea Zivic (MER) 6-4, 6-2