On top of the hometown rivalry between Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist, a spot in the GSC tournament was on the line Tuesday, according to Head Lady Reddie Coach Brenda Joiner. The Lady Reddies overcame the Lady Tigers 6-3, defending their hold on the ravine and a spot in the GSC tournament which will be held April 17 and 18 in Montgomery, Ala.
Joiner and her Lady Reddie team have earned a trip to the tournament 16 of her 17 years as the Lady Reddie coach. “This was a match we all looked forward to,” said Joiner. “Not only is OBU our biggest rival, but we also realized a tournament birth was at stake. If we had lost, we would have stayed home ... I am relieved that it is past us now.”
In No. 1 doubles, Ouachita Baptist's Mariana Divardin and Tavu Fa beat Henderson State's Meredith Massey and Lacey Hawkins 8-1. OBU lost the No. 2 spot doubles 8-2, with Megan Ruggles and Lilia Sokolova falling to Lady Reddies Stephanie Schnobel and Estaphanie Lau. The No. 3 doubles went to Henderson State 8-2, as Lady Reddies Rebacca Staton and Natalie Foster overcame Lady Tigers Katie Potts and Samantha Street.
OBU won No. 1 singles as Divardin topped Massey 6-1, 6-1. OBU's Fa fell to Lady Reddie Staton 7-6, 6-3 at No. 2. HSU's Schnobel topped OBU's Sokolova 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 3 spot. At No. 4, HSU's Lau beat OBU's Potts 6-1, 6-1. No. 5 went to HSU 7-5, 6-1 as Foster defeated OBU's Ruggles. OBU pulled their second win in doubles at the No. 6 spot 6-1, 6-3 as Street topped Lady Reddie Theresa Nguyen.
The win advanced the Lady Reddies to 3-2 in conference play.
