HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – The Cairn University women's tennis team began their traditional spring season with three matches at the Spring Tennis Fest in Hilton Head Island this past week.
 
Cairn (3-3) dropped back-to-back 9-0 matches to start the week against very quality opponents in Shenandoah on Monday and Loras on Tuesday. Sophomores Ersy Neal (Media, PA / Delaware County Christian) and Rebekah Hepp highlighted the Shenandoah match with an 8-7 (7-4) battle at No. 2 doubles for Cairn.
 
The Highlanders ended the week with a 6-3 defeat against Western Connecticut State on Thursday. Cairn claimed one doubles victory, courtesy of juniors Abby Horning (Adamstown, PA / Cocalico) and Gabriella Hurst (Stevens, PA / Cocalico) with an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles. In singles bouts, senior Paige Kemper (Lancaster, PA / Garden Spot) paced Cairn with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph at No. 1 singles, followed by Neal with a 7-5, 7-5 besting of her opponent at No. 3 singles.
 
The Highlanders will return to the courts on Saturday, March 25 when they make the trip to Lancaster to take on Lancaster Bible College in a non-conference match at 12 p.m.