SAN ANTONIO - Trinity University Women's Tennis surrendered a 5-4 margin to Southwestern University at the Newman Tennis Center Sunday afternoon in the 2021 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship finale.

The Tigers (9-8; 4-1 SCAC) erased a 4-2 deficit in the waning moments of Sunday's title bout with victories from seniors Zoe Kaffen and Mary Kaffen (San Juan Capistrano, Calif. / Jserra Catholic) in lines one and four, respectively.

While the submissions from the Kaffens came back-to-back, the pace of play differed tremendously. Mary's three-set tally opened on a swift 6-0 first set and was already multiple games into the second before first-year Cate Cushing (Colleyville, Texas / Colleyville Heritage) marked the second completed first set of individual play. Meanwhile, Zoe was still in the midst of a calculated 3-2 battle in her first set before she ultimately took command en route to her 6-4, 6-1 output.

The line-two victory from Cushing levelled the match at 2-2 as her pace was coupled with a pair of decisive set scores, 6-3, 6-4. Cushing and doubles partner junior Megan Flores (Houston, Texas / Clear Lake) also notched the first Trinity point on the board from line one as the pair turned in a reciprocal 8-3 mark to respond to the Pirates' first mark of the day in line two doubles.

The Tigers could not capitalize on the momentum built in the late stage of the match and ultimately fell in a barn-burning three-set affair.

What's Next

With the conclusion of the 2021 SCAC Championship tournament, Trinity Women's Tennis awaits the NCAA's tournament selection announcement on Monday, May 10.