Box Score Spartanburg, S.C. - For the first time in nearly a year, Converse tennis played a match at home, hosting Newberry College in an inter-conference battle. On a cool morning, the Valkyries fell behind quickly in the doubles with a 2-6 loss from the number two pair of Belen Vendrell and Marleen Prinz. Newberry continued to fight off rallies in the remaining doubles positions, clinching the doubles point with a contested 3-6 win at number one doubles over the pairing of Taylor Parrott and Tonya Glogowski-Watson.

Converse rebounded early in the singles with heavily contested first sets. However, Newberry was able to strike first with a 3-6 1-6 win at number two singles and with another win by the same score at number three singles. Needing wins at every remaining position, the Valkyries responded with a 6-4 7-5 at the number four position. Vendrell and Anna Klasson continued the rally from the Valkyries by earning second set wins at the number one and six positions, forcing deciding 3rd sets. Unfortunately, Newberry clinched the team win with a victory at number five singles. Vendrell fell in the 3rd set by a tiebreak score of 5-10. Klasson, however, moved her singles record to 2-0 on the year by emerging victorious by a score of 1-6 6-4 6-3. 

The Valkyries continue to make improvements on the year, improving to a 2-5 decision to a team that defeated them a comfortable 0-7 just one season ago. Newberry marks the final match prior to conference play beginning. Opening the conference slate with a home bout versus Erskine on March 10, Coach Alex Poda believes the team is up for the challenge this season. "It is a new opportunity and this team has come so far already, but we have so much further to go and so many more highs to reach. This incredible group is going to learn and get hungrier from today, and it is very exciting to move into conference play," Coach Poda expressed. The Valkyries sit at 2-1 on the season heading into Wednesday's match.