SPARTANBURG, SC- The Converse College tennis team hosted Barton College and Benedict College in a doubleheader on Sunday, Mar. 4 due to matches being postponed on Friday and Saturday because of rain. 

The Valkyries lost 8-1 to the Bulldogs of Barton, with the lone win for Converse coming at #2 doubles.  Freshman Raissa Morandi (Campinas, Brasil) and sophomore Marisa Esformes (Miami, FL) defeated Alicia Lasry and Caroline Fisher in a close match, 9-7.

At 5pm, the purple and gold took the courts again to face the Tigers of Benedict College, coming away with a 5-4 win.  Junior Olivia Self (Greenville, SC) paired with sophomore Taylor Bland (Irmo, SC) to defeat Glory Zhou and Jessica Carswell at #1 doubles, and Self went on to defeat Zhou 6-2, 6-1 at #1 singles.  Morandi and Esformes paired up to move past Chloe Jean-Charles and Keneisha Washington in #2 doubles play, 8-0.  Bland handed Carswell a loss at #3 singles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 while Esformes sealed the victory with a win at #4 singles defeating Washington 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

The Valkyries move to 3-6 overall.  They travel to Coker College on Monday, Mar. 5 seeking their first win in Conference Carolinas play.  The match will begin at 3:30pm.

Barton 8, Converse 1

Singles competition

1. Mika Deane def. Olivia Self, 6-2, 6-1

2. Lindsey Frederick def. Raissa Olmos Morandi, 6-4, 6-3

3. Alicia Lasry def. Taylor Bland (CONTN12) 6-2, 7-5

4. Lindsay Toth def. Marisa Esformes (CONTN12) 6-4, 6-3

5. Caroline Fischer def. No player, by forfeit

6. Francesca Del Pozo def. No player, by forfeit

Doubles competition

1. Mika Deane/Lindsey Frederick def. Olivia Self/Taylor Bland, 8-2

2. Raissa Olmos Morandi/Marisa Esformes def. Alicia Lasry/Caroline Fischer, 9-7

3. Francesca Del Pozo/Lindsay Toth def. No player/No player, by forfeit

Converse 5, Benedict 4

Singles competition

1. Olivia Self def. Glory Zhou, 6-2, 6-1

2. Chloe Jean-Charles def. Raissa Olmos Morandi, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 10-8

3. Taylor Bland def. Jessica Carswell, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

4. Marisa Esformes def. Keneisha Whittington, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2

5. Monique Hill def. No player, by default

6. Darnel Howlett def. No player, by default

Doubles competition

1. Olivia Self/Taylor Bland def. Glory Zhou/Jessica Carswell, 8-3

2. Raissa Olmos Morandi/Marisa Esformes def. Chloe Jean-Charles/Keneisha Whittington, 8-0

3. Monique Hill/Darnel Howlett def. No player/No player, by default