TOPEKA – Fifth-seeded Kansas Wesleyan provided the only upset in Thursday's KCAC Women's Tennis Quarterfinals at Kossover Tennis Complex.
The Coyotes avenged an earlier loss to Sterling as KWU knocked off the No. 4 seeded Warriors 4-2 to advance to the conference semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m.
"I'm really proud of the way the ladies prepared physically and mentally," KWU head coach Josh Molino said. "We got beat up pretty good at Sterling (6-1 loss) a few weeks ago and we took it personally.
"We weren't as tough and hungry as they were that day. Today was a culmination of weeks of work and focus."
The Coyotes ended the match winning a fourth singles flight, securing the win for the Coyotes and stopping the two matches left on court at No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles.
KWU got two big wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles as Karley Benson (SO/Salina) beat Maddie Stoll 6-2, 7-6 at No. 1, and Michaela Crowe (FR/Overland Park) beat Nicole Marin 6-1, 6-3.
"Today was about heart and grit. Karley took out Maddie Stoll, a first-team all-conference player, our freshman Michaela beat a senior," Molino said. "Our two most consistent performers all year long (Makenzie Archer (FR/McPherson) and Brianna Mendoza (JR/Balch Springs, Texas)) did what they have been doing and dominated from the first serve. I'm really proud of the team."
Archer beat Kinzie Comley 6-1, 6-3; and Mendoza beat Kylah Comley 6-1, 6-1; sealing the win for the Coyotes.
Sterling won at No. 6 singles as April Swartz beat Savannah Noel (SO/Portis) 6-0, 7-5 and the Warriors captured the doubles point by winning the 1 and 2 flights.
Stoll and Marin beat Benson and Crowe 6-4; and Rachel Carlson and Kinzie Comley beat Zofia Selwesiuk (SO/Wroclaw, Poland) and Noel 6-3.
The No. 3 singles match between Carlson and Selwesiuk was stopped after the match winner was determined. Carlson had won the first set, and the second was tied 4-4. KWU led at No. 3 singles 6-5 as Archer and Mendoza had the advantage on Kylah Comley and Swartz.
KWU hits the court on Friday at Kossover Tennis Complex against top seed Ottawa starting at 2 p.m. The conference finals will follow after both semifinals are complete.