The Lady Bees faced a powerful No. 2 ranked Georgia Gwinnett this morning in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Women's NAIA National Tennis Championship in Mobile , Alabama.  The Grizzlies took the victory by a score of 5-1, but the score did not reflect the finish that SCAD gave the gallery at the end of the day.
 
In doubles play the Lady Bees challenged the Grizzlies at Nos. 1 (Theresa Schmaus / Maja Plavsic) and 2 (Maria Barragan / Daniella Arcila), but fell in both matches by scores of 5-8 and 8-9.  When Carolina Viteri and India Hart lost 0-8 at No, 3 it was a very deep hole for SCAD.  They would have to win five of the six the singles matches if they were to proceed to the championship semifinals.
 
When India Hart was the first to complete her match at No. 4, and came out on the losing end with a 6-3, 6-0 straight set loss, it seemed to be all over.  Now SCAD would need a sweep of the remaining five matches.  But somehow the Lady Bees made things very interesting.
 
Arcila, playing at No. 5, was the next singles player to finish and she gave SCAD its first win of the day in straight sets (6-3, 6-0).  That left SCAD with the improbable task of winning all four of the remaining matches. 
 
Plavsic (#2) and Barragan (#3) won their first sets and only needed one more set victory.  When Carolina Viteri came back at #6 in the second set of her match to force a third set things looked hopeful.  Schmaus, who had lost her first set also came back with a win in the second set.  Tensions were high for both teams as all the remaining singles players were now entering third sets. 
 
Plavsic was tied at 4-4 in her third set.  Viteri was down 3-5 and Schmaus had not yet begun her set.  All eyes were on Barragan at #3 when she battled back from losing her second set 0-6 to make the score 4-5 in the third, but when her opponent struck a winning shot the good run of the Bees came to a season's end.  The ladies had given it a fantastic finish, but were defeated by a very strong Georgia Gwinnett team by a very deceiving 1-5 final score.  It was much closer than that.
 
Doubles
1. Valeria Podda/Helena Korompis (GGC) def. Maja Plavsic/Theresa Schmaus (SCAD) 8-5
2. Ines Comstamanga/Victoria Svennson (GGC) def. Maria Barragan/Daniella Arcila (SCAD) 9-8
3. Paloma Cortina/Chiara Di Salvo (GGC) def. Carolina Viteri/India Hart (SCAD) 8-0
 
Singles
1. Theresa Schmaus (SCAD) vs. Valeria Podda (GGC) 4-6, 7-6, (Unfinished)
2. Maja Plavsic (SCAD) vs. J. van Fraaijenhoven (GGC) 2-6, 6-3, 4-4, (Unfinished)
3. Paloma Cortina (GGC) def. Maria Barragan (SCAD) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4
4. Chiara Di Salvo (GGC) def. India Hart (SCAD) 6-3, 6-0
5. Daniella Arcila (SCAD) def. Luma Schwab (GGC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Carolina Viteri (SCAD) vs. Ines Comstamanga (GGC) 6-4, 0-6, 3-5, (Unfinished)
 
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,5,3)
 
Thank you ladies for your 2014 season.  Being 7th in the nation at the beginning of the NAIA National Championship was well earned. 
 
We sadly say farewell to seniors Maja Plavsic and Theresa Schmaus, who played their last matches today for the Lady Bees.  What champions they are!!  Thank you Maja and Theresa for your years of leadership and excellence, both on and off the court.