Herd Tennis Advances to SBC Semifinals with Win Over Coastal Carolina

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – The sixth-seeded Marshall University tennis team (16-8) upset the third-seeded Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (17-8) 4-1 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament.

"Today was a good, grind it out match, but we were ready," Herd head coach John Mercer said after the victory. "We're looking forward to doing it again tomorrow."

Marshall made quick work of the Chanticleers in doubles. Emma Vanderheyden and Johanna Strom swept Tatum Burger and Lilie Steryous 6-0 on court one. Sophia Hurrion and Aisling McGrane didn't wait long to seal the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Jesse Hollins and Victoire De Samucewicz on court two.

The Herd captured its first two singles victories in three-set affairs by McGrane and Hurrion at numbers four and six singles, respectively, to make it 3-1.

Andjela Lopicic then sealed the match with a 7-6 (5), 6-4, triumph over Kata Foldeak on court five to send MU to the semifinals.

Although her singles match went unfinished, Vanderheyden helped keep the spirits high for Marshall as she overcame a 1-5 deficit to take her first set in a tiebreak.

RESULTS VS. COASTAL CAROLINA
DOUBLES
1. Emma Vanderheyden/Johanna Strom (MAR) def. Tatum Burger/Lilie Steryous (CCU) 6-0
2. Aisling McGrane/Sophia Hurrion (MAR) def. Jesse Hollins/Victoire De Samucewicz (CCU) 6-2
3. Gabrielle Clairotte/Rieke Gillar (MAR) vs. Anna Babayan/Kata Foldeak (CCU) 3-4 UF
Order of finish: 1,2

SINGLES
1. Johanna Strom (MAR) vs. Victoire De Samucewicz (CCU) 6-2, 2-6, 4-3 UF
2. Emma Vanderheyden vs. Anna Babayan (CCU) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 3-3 UF
3. Tatum Burger (CCU) def. Doroteja Joksovic (MAR) 6-2, 6-3
4. Aisling McGrane (MAR) def. Jesse Hollins (CCU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
5. Andjela Lopicic (MAR) def. Kata Foldeak (CCU) 7-6 (5), 6-4
6. Sophia Hurrion (MAR) def. Lilie Steryous (CCU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 4, 6, 5

UP NEXT
The Herd will take on the second-seeded James Madison Dukes in the semifinals at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) in Peachtree City, Georgia.

For the latest information on Marshall women's tennis, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @Herd_Tennis, on Facebook at Herd Tennis and online at HerdZone.com.

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Herd Tennis Advances to SBC Semifinals with Win Over Coastal Carolina

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Gabrielle Clairotte

Rieke Gillar

Sophia Hurrion

Doroteja Joksovic

Andjela Lopicic

Aisling McGrane

Johanna Strom

Emma Vanderheyden

Marshall University Athletics