SPARTANBURG, SC- The Valkyries tennis squad dominated play against the Tornados of King College on Friday, winning 6-1 to earn their second consecutive victory in Conference Carolinas play.  With the win, Converse improves to 5-12 overall and 2-7 in league play.

The Valkyries were forced to forfeit the #5 singles position and therefore started the match trailing the Tornados, 1-0.  That was the first and last time Converse would be behind as they dominated in every seed once play began.  Junior Olivia Self (Greenville, SC) teamed with sophomore Taylor Bland (Irmo, SC) to take the 8-2 win at #1 doubles over Karissa King and Kayla Ketron.  Freshman Raissa Morandi (Campinas, Brazil) and sophomore Marisa Esformes (Miami, FL) won against Sarah Anderson and Eden Sherrod in the #2 doubles position, 8-6.  Morandi and Esformes have combined for eight doubles wins so far this season.

The Converse dominance carried into singles play, as Self dominated King, 6-0, 6-0 at #1 singles and Morandi handled Anderson at the #2 position, 6-2, 6-2.  Bland only lost one game, overwhelming Ketron at the #3 singles slot with a score of 6-1, 6-0.  Esformes capped the performance for the purple and gold by sweeping Sherrod at #4 singles, 6-0, 6-0.

The Valkyries have less than 24 hours rest before turning around to host conference opponent Pfeiffer University on Saturday at 11am.

Singles competition

1. Olivia Self (def. Karissa King, 6-0, 6-0

2. Raissa Olmos Morandi def. Sarah Anderson, 6-2, 6-2

3. Taylor Bland def. Kayla Ketron, 6-1, 6-0

4. Marisa Esformes def. Eden Sherrod, 6-0, 6-0

5. Kelsey Copeland def. No player, by default

Doubles competition

1. Olivia Self/Taylor Bland def. Karissa King/Kayla Ketron, 8-2

2. Raissa Olmos Morandi/Marisa Esformes def. Sarah Anderson/Eden Sherrod, 8-6