LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University women's tennis team embarked on their 2022-23 season with a narrow 5-4 victory against non-conference adversary Marywood University at home inside the McCurdy Tennis Facility in the first match of their non-traditional fall slate on Saturday afternoon.
 
Cairn (1-0) got off to a hot start by sweeping the doubles matches on the day, led by senior Paige Kemper (Lancaster, PA / Garden Spot HS) and junior Brianna Miller (Delta, PA / Kennard-Dale) with an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles. Junior Rachel Campbell-Robertson (Richmond, VA / Veritas School) and sophomore Ersy Neal (Wayne, PA / Delaware County Christian School) earned an 8-5 win in the No. 2 slot, while junior Abby Horning (St. Adamstown, PA / Cocalico) completed the sweep with an 8-6 win in the No. 3 slating.
 
The Pacers made things interesting by claiming four of the six singles bouts, including a lengthy bout at No. 3 singles between Faith Kendricks and Campbell-Robertson that ended in a 3-6, 7-6 (16-14), 0-1 (8-10) marathon victory for Marywood. However, Horning and Kemper provided the two singles wins the Highlanders needed to close out the match, with Horning earning a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles and Kemper scoring a gutsy, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) victory at No. 1 singles over Allison Bashore.
 
The Highlanders will be back on the courts on Saturday, September 24 when they welcome Gwynedd Mercy University to Langhorne for a non-conference tilt inside the McCurdy facility at 12 p.m.