LAKELAND, Fla - The No. 11-ranked Florida Southern College women's tennis team continued its rise in the national spotlight, moving from No. 23 to No. 11 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II poll following an impressive week against nationally ranked competition.
The strong week also translated to movement in the ITA individual rankings. Josie Holderbach climbed from No. 38 to No. 20 in the national singles poll, while Emily Jennewein moved up one spot from No. 56 to No. 55. In doubles, the tandem of Jennewein and Ronja Scheuermann debuted at No. 42 nationally, and the No. 1 pair of Kennedi Brown and Holderbach entered the rankings at No. 49.
Florida Southern opened the stretch with a 6-1 victory over No. 16 Thomas Jefferson University. The Mocs secured the doubles point as Brown and Holderbach defeated Anouk Oderkerk and Alycia Veroux 6-2 at No. 1, while Jennewein and Scheuermann earned a 6-2 win over Sophia Babar and Emily Frost at No. 2. Annika Berrendorf and Jolie Miller led 5-3 at No. 3 before the match went unfinished. In singles play, Holderbach fell at No. 1 to Anouk Oderkerk 7-5, 6-4, but Florida Southern responded with five straight wins. Jennewein defeated Alycia Veroux 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2, Miller topped Madina Omarova 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3, Diana Volkov earned a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Marta Vazquez at No. 4, Brown won 6-2, 6-0 against Marely Alvarado at No. 5, and Elona Simonov closed out the match with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Rose Huang at No. 6.
The Mocs followed with a 6-1 win over No. 40 Tuskegee University. In doubles, Jennewein and Scheuermann earned a 6-3 victory over Gabrielle Blanks and Ad Serena Pascaline at No. 2, while Berrendorf and Miller claimed a 6-1 win against Dayna Jackson and Asia McRae at No. 3. Brown and Holderbach were leading 5-2 at No. 1 against Leiloni Payton and Ayawavi Vania Dotse before play was halted. In singles competition, Holderbach delivered a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win over Dotse at No. 1, Berrendorf defeated Payton 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2, and Brown earned a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Taylor Ford at No. 5. Miller led Ad Serena Pascaline 6-2, 3-5 at No. 3 when the match was stopped, Volkov was ahead 6-0, 5-1 over Asia McRae at No. 4, and Elin Axler led 2-0 at No. 6 against Griffin-Harrington when play concluded.
Florida Southern then battled No. 1 University of West Florida in a tightly contested 4-2 decision. The Mocs swept the completed doubles matches as Brown and Holderbach defeated Sandra Recuenco and Carlota Verdu 6-3 at No. 1, and Jennewein and Scheuermann topped Guadalupe Martinez and All Mldorl Da Silva 6-3 at No. 2. Berrendorf and Miller were leading 5-4 at No. 3 when the point was clinched. In singles play, Holderbach secured a statement win at No. 1, defeating Carlota Verdu 6-1, 6-2. Scheuermann fell at No. 2 to Sandra Recuenco 6-4, 7-5, while Jennewein dropped a 7-5, 6-1 decision to All Mldorl Da Silva at No. 3. Berrendorf was defeated 6-1, 6-1 by Guadalupe Martinez at No. 4, and Miller fell 6-1, 6-3 to Alberte Jorgensen at No. 5. Volkov trailed 4-1 in her first set at No. 6 when the match went unfinished.
With two ranked wins and a competitive battle against the nation's top team, the Moccasins continue to build momentum heading into the heart of the spring season.
