HILTON HEAD, S.C. – In its first match of the Hilton Head Spring Fest, Catholic women's tennis took down Mount Union, 5-2. The Cardinals gained an early lead and were able to fend off a comeback attempt from their opponents to secure the victory and improve their season record to 7-1.

Mount Union won the first match of the day, but Catholic bounced back with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to earn the opening point. Ella Knox and Ava Niggemeier played together at the top spot and were able to jump out to an early lead before defeating their opponents 6-3. Similarly, Ava Kaloustian and Samantha D'Addezio to hold of their No. 3 doubles match and did not look back, winning 6-3. 

Shloka Tambat added another point to the Cardinal's total with a convincing win at No. 1 singles. She was perfect once again, not allowing a game and taking the match by a final score of 8-0.

The next two points were won by Mount Union, evening the match at two apiece. Catholic responded by winning the three remaining singles matches to secure the victory.

Meaghan Laniewski played an impressive deuce point while in the lead, 7-5, to win her No. 2 singles match. D'Addezio returned to the courts and picked up her second point of the day to clinch the match for the Cardinals. She did not lose a game, winning 8-0 from the No. 6 spot. At No. 5 singles, Alyson Morris was down 0-3, 1-4, 2-5, but was able to stay competitive and win four straight games to take a 6-5. She continued to battle down the stretch and eventually won 8-6 in a tiebreak. Her opponent had five match points, all of which Morris was able to fend off, before winning her first match point opportunity.

The Cardinals will play several more matches in Hilton Head throughout the remainder of this week.