SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University tennis team rode an emotional tidal wave of support for each other and their head coach to score a Pink Out victory over Messiah College Wednesday at Robb Sports Complex, 4-3.
 
Shippensburg (1-4) sophomore Corinne Markovich claimed her first-ever victories in No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles competition to highlight the Raider triumph. Junior Kendall Winters also notched wins in singles and doubles competition.
 
Markovich teamed with freshman Brinley Orris to defeat the Falcon's No. 1 pair of Kasi Conjack and Bella Heckman by a 6-2 score.
 
Winters and senior Brighid Cantwell also scored a win in the No. 3 doubles matchup to clinch the doubles point for the Raiders. Junior Brooklynn Rupert and freshman Ali Zapach won one game at No. 2 doubles.  
 
Markovich carried the momentum from her doubles win into singles competition, defeating No. 1 singles competitor Conjack in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-1.
 
Freshman Rachel Gallagher picked up a straight set win in No. 6 singles (6-3, 6-2), and Winter clinched a victory for the hosts with a win in No. 5 singles competition (6-1, 6-4).
 
Rupert and Orris won a set apiece as they battled their respective opponents to three sets in No. 3 and No. 4 singles, and Zapach took three games in No. 2 singles.
 
Messiah (1-1) got wins from Kylie Walker, Bella Heckman and Rebekah Sheaffer in No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
 
The Pink Out was put together by the team after head coach Sheila Bush was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Players from both teams wore pink ribbons in honor of Bush, who previously spent 10 seasons as the head coach of Messiah (2000-2011).
 
"Coach has always taught us to be a fighter and coach is a fighter herself, so today we wanted to come together and fight in order to get this win," Markovich said.
 
"Coach is definitely our biggest fan and we are her biggest fans," added Winters. "We had so much support on the court and it was a great day."