COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W women's tennis picked up its first two wins of the year at the Garrett Courts on Friday. The Owls clipped LaGrange College, 4-3, and defeated Rust College, 5-2.
 
The win over LaGrange avenged a loss to the Panthers in the fall (also by a 4-3 score). And this time around, playing a man down made MUW's win even more impressive. In doubles to begin the day, the Owls split the contested matches, winning at No. 2 pairs with the tandem of Jaysa Whatley and Emma Horton taking a 6-3 win. But the Panthers jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the team score by winning No. 1 and taking a forfeit from MUW at No. 3 doubles.
 
By also forfeiting No. 6 singles, The W found itself down 2-0 entering the five contested singles matches and needing to win four of them.
 
At No. 3 singles, Mallory Parker got The W on the board with a dominating 6-0, 6-1 win over LC's Abby Fuller. Next off of the court, LaGrange notched is third point of the day – and within a point of the team win – by taking No. 1 singles.
 
That's when MUW started its roll versus the Panthers.
 
Whatley polished off Reese Moat at No. 2 singles in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. At No. 4 singles, Alaina Mathis knotted the match at 4-4 thanks to her 6-1, 6-2 win over LC's Bobbi Whitaker.
 
That brought the match down to No. 5 singles, where MUW's Daviana Brent was locked in a battle with the Panthers' Airy Williams. The duo split sets, with Brent taking the first, 6-3, but dropping the second, 6-2. In the deciding proset third, it was Brent controlling matters for the match – and team – win, 10-8.
 
Versus Rust, the Owls would score all the points they needed via forfeits, as the Bearcats did not have a full roster and interim head coach Brian Merkel was able to employ opportunities in the contested matches to give his lineup some opportunities.