Women’s tennis team suffered two close losses over the past week, falling 4-3 to both McDaniel College and Marymount University. 

 On Wednesday afternoon, Ferrum was narrowly defeated by McDaniel in Westminster, Maryland. Despite winning one double and three singles matches, the Panthers were hindered by having to default in three matches. 

Hannah Huffman, senior, and Skylar Honeycutt, first-year, first won in singles, with Huffman defeating Rachel Smith 6-1, 6-1, and Honeycutt beating MacKenzie McCarter 6-0, 6-1. Gabby Mendoza, senior, also earned a hard-fought victory over NaKayla Lawson, winning 5-0, 7-6. Madison Cox, first-year, then lost 6-0, 6-1 to Stephanie Buttons.  

In doubles, Cox and Honeycutt fell 6-2 to Buttons and Rachel Smith, while Huffman and Mendoza secured a 6-3 win over Emily Larson and Jillian Lasher. McDaniel also claimed one doubles match by default went on to win two singles matches.  

Ferrum’s record dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play after the loss. 

On Saturday, the Panthers traveled to Virginia Highlands Park to face Marymount University, where they ultimately fell 4-3.  

The Saints took a 1-0 lead after sweeping all three doubles matches, with Ferrum forfeiting the third doubles spot.  

Marymount claimed the first singles match and benefitted from forfeits at the #5 and #6 singles positions. However, Ferrum’s Huffman, Honeycutt, and Mendoza fought back in singles, with Honeycutt delivering a 6-1, 6-0 performance. Huffman won 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-4) over Sofi Plotkin, while Mendoza triumphed 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (10-4) against Francesca Louiseau. 

 In doubles, Honeycutt and Huffman fell 6-0 to Hana Kimmey and Nikhita Simhambhalta, and Madison Cox and Mendoza fell 6-4 to Sofi Plotkin and Peyton Johnson.