ST. LOUIS, Mo.- University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis bowed out of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday after a loss to a tough Southern Illinois University Edwardsville squad, 4-0. The semifinal loss concludes the Screaming Eagles season finishing 11-11 overall.
USI made huge strides this season in year two of NCAA Division I play improving their win total by seven games from the 2023 season. The Eagles return majority of the roster as their young players received valuable experience playing in high stake matches. The program is excited for the what the future holds in year three of Division I play.
Doubles
The Cougars overwhelmed the Eagles in doubles winning all three matches. The dynamic freshman duo of Antonia Ferrarini (Caxias do Sul, Brazil) and Sofia Davidoff (Lagny-sur-Marne, France) fell just short in the doubles one matchup against two excellent players, 2-4.
Singles
USI failed to hold off the Cougars in singles as well. Senior Rachel McCorkle (Tulsa, Oklahoma) and freshman Anais Negrail (Maisons-Alfort, France) fought hard in defeat 0-6, 3-6.
USI had two seniors who played pivotal roles leading this young Eagles team. Senior Lauren Rowe (Terre Haute, Indiana) was a four-year Eagle who competed in the singles number one position for the majority of the year winning eight matches.
Rowe has been a force since she stepped on campus in 2020-21 where she posted USI’s only singles winning record. In 2022, she nabbed 11 singles wins and went 13-10 in doubles matches. In 2023, Rowe earned the second most singles wins along with earning an OVC Doubles Team of the Week honor.
McCorkle is another consistent four-year Eagle who will be missed. McCorkle did it all earning Academic Honors in both the GLVC and the OVC. In her sophomore season, she ranked first in singles wins with 13 along with a 13-10 record in doubles. In 2023, she ranked first among USI in singles victories again along with winning OVC Double Team of the Week honors with Rowe.
The USI community commends the efforts from this season’s journey and looks forward to where the program is heading.
