HARROGATE, Tenn. — The Bellarmine University women's tennis team opened its spring season with a dramatic 6-3 road win Sunday over Lincoln Memorial where the Knights won four of five tiebreakers.

"The girls were mentally tough and poised," Bellarmine Coach John Mican said.

Junior Maggie Walroth (No. 1 singles/No. 1 doubles) and senior Mairin Cotter (No. 6 singles/No. 3 doubles) collected two wins apiece for Bellarmine (5-0), which is ranked ninth in the Midwest Region. Sophomore Jennifer Skonieczny (No. 2 singles), freshman Ava Ratcliff (No. 5 singles), sophomore Ashley Jonathan (No. 1 doubles) and senior Marissa Kovach (No. 3 doubles) all notched one victory apiece against Lincoln Memorial (3-1).

Walroth captured a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 1 singles over Marta Pinol, who is ranked seventh in the region and 35th nationally. Skonieczny rallied from a first-set loss at No. 2 singles, and Ratcliff clinched the team win at No. 5 singles after she also recovered following a first-set defeat.

Doubles play set the nail-biting tone. Walroth and Jonathan, the region's third-ranked doubles squad, won convincingly at No. 1, but Kovach and Cotter had to remain composed in saving three match points at No. 3 in earning their victory.

"It was great the way they supported each other," Mican said of Kovach and Cotter.

On the men's side, the Knights suffered a 0-9 loss to Lincoln Memorial.

The tightest match for Bellarmine (1-2) against LMU (3-0) came at No. 2 singles, where senior Matt Momper battled to a tiebreaker with David Segarra.

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