MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Belhaven women's tennis team concluded their 2012-13 season with a loss to No. 5 William Carey in the SSAC Quarterfinals on Saturday morning. Belhaven played well despite an unexpected day off because of inclement weather, but they were ultimately handled by the Crusaders 5-0 in tournament play.

The Crusaders set the early tone for the match by sweeping the three doubles competitions quickly. Carola Orna and Maja Vuzem, the seventh-ranked doubles tandem in the country, defeated Belhaven's Ashley McLendon and Katie Campbell for the second time on the year, 8-2. William Carey's third doubles team also performed well by winning 8-1 over Savannah Zachry and Shelley Munn.

In their final collegiate match, seniors Indi Mire and Natalia Krier put up the biggest fight of the day at the second flight. They battled back and forth with Sarah-Maria Spruch and Julia Angerman over the first few games, but the Crusaders' duo pulled away for an 8-4 victory in the end.

With momentum in their favor, William Carey turned their sights to singles play. Orna, a top-25 individual player, had her way against McLendon to pick up the Crusaders' fourth point of the match.

Only one point away from a match victory, the Crusaders closed out the match with a win at third singles. Since the match was decided, no other Belhaven players were able to finish their matches. Munn had a lead at fifth singles when the match was called.

In addition to Mire and Krier, Zachry and Munn played the final matches of their collegiate careers on Saturday morning. The four seniors are a part of a class that has turned Belhaven women's tennis in a new direction for the future. Their four years on campus represent one of the highest winning percentages for any class in women's tennis history at Belhaven.

“The women battled fiercely all day and we nearly came up with a victory at doubles spot two, but came just short. I am proud of the way the girls fought today and all season. The seniors will certainly be missed as they laid the foundation for future Belhaven tennis teams,” said Coach Levi Patton following the game.

Belhaven finishes their season at 11-6, a year in which they spent most of their time ranked in the Top 25 in the country. 

Results:

Singles
1. #20 Carola Orna (WCU) def. Ashley McLendon (BU) 6-0, 6-0
2. #41 Sarah-Maria Spruch (WCU) vs. Indi Mire (BU) 6-1, 5-4, unfinished
3. #42 Maja Vuzem (WCU) def. Natalia Krier (BU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Julia Angerman (WCU) vs. Savannah Zachry (BU) 6-1, 5-1, unfinished
5. A. Zvyagintesva (WCU) vs. Shelley Munn (BU) unfinished
6. Malin Collin (WCU) vs. Elizabeth Chrestman (BU) unfinished

Doubles 
1. #7 Carola Orna/Maja Vuzem (WCU) def. Ashley McLendon/Katherine Campbell (BU) 8-2
2. Sarah-Maria Spruch/Julia Angerman (WCU) def. Indi Mire/Natalia Krier (BU) 8-4
3. Malin Collin/A. Zvyagintesva (WCU) def. Savannah Zachry/Shelley Munn (BU) 8-1