Shippensburg University Athletics

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University tennis team battled to the wire before but came up short against Messiah in its home opener Thursday afternoon at Robb Sports Complex, 4-3.
 
Shippensburg's (0-2) effort against Messiah (1-0) was highlighted by a pair of thrilling comebacks, first from Rachel Gallagher and Taylor Maguire to clinch the doubles point in SU's favor, then Renee Kinard during a second set tiebreaker to wrap up a big win at No. 1 singles.
 
Gallagher and Maguire, SU's No. 3 doubles pair, erased a 5-2 deficit with five consecutive points to score a 7-5 win. Kinard and Samhitha Koganti also combined for a 6-4 triumph at No. 1 doubles, while Brinley Orris and Ava Kalist  won four games at No. 2 doubles.
 
Kinard continued the momentum with a marathon win on the No. 1 singles court. After winning the first set 6-3, the freshman took Messiah's Kiara Bomboy to a second set tiebreaker. Kinard took her game to another level after trailing 6-2, winning six consecutive points to take the tiebreaker and finish off Bomboy in two sets, 6-3 and 7-6 (8-6).
 
Kalist also posted a win at No 5 singles (6-2, 6-2).
 
Every singles flight was competitive. Koganti won six games in No. 2 singles competition. Maguire won five games at No. 6 singles, while Orris and Gallagher won three games at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
 
The Raiders are back in action at Robb Sports Complex tomorrow when they host Frostburg State at 1 p.m.