SAN ANTONIO - No. 24 Trinity University Women's Tennis had its modest four-match winning streak cut off by the nation's top-ranked squad, University of Chicago, Monday night, 9-0.
The Tigers (8-6) were within striking distance in a handful of matches across the scorebook, led by the three-set match in line-three singles from first-year Ruth Hill (Abilene, Texas / Abilene) and a strong early showing from sophomore Ellie Hughes (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) and first-year Sam Miller (Georgetown, Texas / Georgetown) in third-line doubles action.
Hill exploded out early in the individual session with a decisive first-set victory, 6-1, but was not able to hang onto her advantage, falling in straight sets after. Hughes and Miller built themselves a 6-3 lead in their matchup but tapered off toward their 8-6 defeat.
As it came with the territory, four matchups in Monday's contest pit the Tigers against nationally-ranked competition in the lineup. Trinity's line-one pair, senior Megan Flores (Houston, Texas / Clear Lake) and sophomore Cate Cushing (Colleyville, Texas / Colleyville Heritage) battled the second-ranked duo of the Maroons to an 8-3 mark. The remaining three all appeared in singles as Cushing faced the No. 10 player in line one, first-year Olivia Kim (Phoenix, Ariz. / Desert Mountain) ran into the No. 30 player and first-year Jenna Lee (San Clemente, Calif. / Jserra Catholic) battled the No. 14 player in line five.
No. 24 Trinity Women's Tennis continues its gauntlet week with No. 30 Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Gusties recently squeaked past Whitman College (WA), 5-4, at the Newman Tennis Center on Sunday as part of their visit to San Antonio.
