BALTIMORE, MD - The Highlanders were swept by the host Johns Hopkins Blue Jays to make a second-round exit in the NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament.

Cairn and Johns Hopkins had never faced each other in women's tennis, and had no common opponents in their condensed season. The Blue Jays entered the NCAA tournament undefeated in regular season play and the champions of the Centennial Conference; Cairn entered the season having lost just one match, their first of the season against Albany State, while going undefeated in conference play to secure their second-straight CSAC championship. Having both secured a first round bye, Cairn and Johns Hopkins were set to meet each other for the first time this weekend in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Highlanders were simply overmatched by the Centennial Conference powerhouse Blue Jays, and Cairn suffered a 5-0 loss to bow out of the tournament.

The day opened with doubles play, and the Highlanders found themselves in a 3-0 hole early, with all three doubles pairs (#1 Paige Kemper/ Brianna Miller; #2 Lauren Griffith/ Sarah Jackson; #3 Rachel Campbell-Robertson/ Gabriella Hurst) dropping their matchups 8-0. 

Heading into singles play, the Highlanders needed to win five of their six matchups in order to secure the come-from-behind victory, while the Blue Jays needed just two wins to take the advantage and the team win. Those two wins came in the #5 and #6 singles matchups, and the day was called with Johns Hopkins in the victory column with a final score of 5-0.

With the loss, the Highlanders' postseason run has come to an end just short of the Sweet 16. Johns Hopkins will advance to take on the winner of Tufts and Endicott on Sunday, May 16 at 12:00 pm. 

Despite the tournament loss, the Highlanders have much to be proud of in their shortened season, battling COVID delays and a constantly shifting schedule to roll through the CSAC and secure their second conference title since 2019. Cairn was also well-represented in the CSAC postseason awards, with five Highlanders earning All-Conference recognition for both singles and doubles play. Sophomore Paige Kemper also earned the dual title of Rookie of the Year and co-Player of the Year, capping a stellar season after her freshman campaign was cancelled due to COVID. With a surplus of young talent and two straight seasons of NCAA postseason experience under their belt, the women's tennis program at Cairn University is slated to build on their recent success for years to come!