Braves Close Out Season With Rout Of Belmont Abbey

 PEMBROKE – Seniors Jenna McGary, Christian Minnick and Maricel Quintero each closed out their collegiate careers with perfect days on the court to lead the UNCP tennis team to a 9-0 rout of visiting Belmont Abbey in the season finale for both teams on Thursday afternoon in Pembroke.

The triumph marked the second-straight victory for UNCP (8-15) who won its regular season finale for the fifth-straight year as well. Belmont Abbey (0-14) finished winless for the second-straight season and fell to 2-10 all-time in its series with the Braves.

The Crusaders found themselves staring at an 0-2 deficit before the match even began by virtue of forfeits at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles, but UNCP quickly padded its lead out to 4-0 with runaway victories in the other two doubles matches. McGary and Winterbottom topped Bridget Franer and Brooke Ingram, 8-2, at No. 1 doubles, while Quintero/Minnick defeated Paige French and Molly Gwaltney by an 8-3 count on court No. 2.

The Black and Gold would not let up on the gas pedal heading into singles play, yielding just two games in taking the five remaining matches in straight sets. Herlocker clinched the team victory with her 6-0, 6-0 win over French at No. 2 singles, while DiNunzio surrendered just one game in ousting Gwaltney 6-0, 6-1 on court No. 4. Quintero posted the same 6-0, 6-1 scores in besting Franer at No. 3 singles.

McGary blanked Ingram 6-0, 6-0 on court No. 1, while Minnick registered the same 6-0, 6-0 defeat of Abby Poetker at No. 5 singles to finish out a successful day for the hosts.

UNC Pembroke 9, Belmont Abbey 0
Apr 14, 2011 at Pembroke, N.C. (Varsity Tennis Courts)