SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second consecutive match the Valkyries men's tennis team crossed the six-hour threshold and lost one of the greatest matches in program history 4-3 to No. 25 Belmont Abbey. Meanwhile, the women's team faltered against the Crusaders and lost 5-2 in a four match against Belmont Abbey.
 
On the men's side of the draw it was a back-and-forth contest from the start of doubles action. The Valkyries No. 1 doubles tandem of Louka Queguiner and Leopold Morel defeated the Crusaders top tandem 6-2. The Crusaders struck back on the No. 3 doubles court with a 6-3 win over the Valkyries tandem of Cameron Davies and Gregoire Legrand. With all eyes fixated on the No. 2 doubles court the teams went shot-for-shot with one another. The Valkyries duo of Merlin Bellet and Paul Berrouet captured the doubles point with a 7-5 tiebreaker.
 
Moving into singles action, Legrand made quick work of his opponent at the No. 3 flight to give the Valkyries a 2-0 advantage over the No. 25 team in the country. Despite winning the opening set, Berrouet lost in a three-set match to give the Crusaders their first point of the match. Bellet rebounded after a second set loss to give the Valkyries a win at the No. 1 singles flight.
 
Converse held a 3-1 edge over the Crusaders with three singles matches left to be played. Davies lost in straight sets at No. 6 singles brining Belmont Abbey within a point of the Valkyries. A straight sets loss at the No. 2 flight by Morel tied the match at three all. With all eyes shifting to the No. 4 singles court, Queguiner and Kent Shiell put on a show for the fans.
 
Queguiner won the opening set 7-5 and held most of the momentum going through the second set. Midway through the second set, Queguiner began to cramp up and lost the second set 7-5. Fighting through the injury and being virtually immobile for the majority of the third set, Queguiner faced a 5-1 deficit to Shiell. Through perseverance and sheer grit, Queguiner fought his way back and tied the match at 5-5. The freshman then forced a third set tie break as the two players continued to match one another shot-for-shot. Shiell won the final three points of the match to give the Crusaders the victory.
 
On the women's side the Valkyries lone win in doubles action came at the No. 2 doubles flight. The pairing of Maria Belen Vendrell and Valentina Aparicio won 7-6 over their opponents. In singles action the women's team got off to a rough start as they lost at the No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 flights in straight sets. Vendrell won at the top flight after her opponent had to retire due to injury. Tonya Glogowski-Watson won at the No. 2 singles flight in straight sets.
 
Next Up:
The Valkyries will be back in action next Tuesday afternoon against Lees-McRae College. First serve is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Converse Tennis Courts.  
 
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