Spartans Stifle Yellow Jackets in HCAC Matchup

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The DC women's tennis team hosted Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Manchester on Wednesday afternoon. The Jackets and Spartans each came into the match looking to grab their first win in conference play on the season. Manchester was victorious in the match winning by a final score of 8-1.

The match began with doubles action, as the Purple and Gold battled at the one and three positions but came up empty-handed in the win column. The Jackets entered singles play trailing the Spartans 3-0.

Manchester continued to dictate the points in most of the singles matches, as the Spartans won four of the six positions in straight sets. The lone victory for Defiance came from junior Kirsten Weiland at the one spot. The junior was leading 3-1 in the first set when her opponent had to forfeit due to injury.

The most exciting match of the day was produced at the five singles position. DC's Danielle LaBarbera lost the first set by a score of 6-3 before rallying back to grab the second set 7-6 in a tiebreaker. A super-tiebreaker to 10 was played in place of the third set and LaBarbera fell just short of winning her third match of the season losing by a score of 10-7.

The Purple and Gold are back in action on Thursday, September 20, as the team travels to Mishawaka, Ind. to face the Pilots of Bethel College. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.