Southern women score 4th straight SWAC tennis title

NEW ORLEANS — Southern won its fourth consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s tennis title Sunday, but the school’s 12th championship occurred under the most adverse conditions.

With SWAC player of the year Demetria Woods sidelined with a non-tennis ailment, the top-seeded Jaguars faltered early against second-seeded Alcorn State in doubles. Southern had to win four of six singles matches to defend its title.

The decisive match at the City Park Tennis Center was played between Alcorn State’s Chan Rutherford and Southern’s Morgan Taylor, who until Woods’ emergency surgery late last week was relegated to doubles.

Taylor rebounded from losing a tiebreaker in the first set and suffering right leg cramps in the third to post a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Her reward? The full onset of pain as her teammates rushed her on the court, where she survived the final 10 minutes of the No. 6 match.

CONTINUE READING