MARYVILLE – Maryville takes the third-place position in the 2024 Collegiate Conference of the South standings after falling 8-1 here Saturday to Covenant in the regular season finale.
The Maryville Scots made progress during the last 12 months, improving their overall record from 8-11 a year ago to 11-8 thus far this season. Two years ago in head coach
Doug Corbett's first season, the final record was 4-10. The league mark each of the last two seasons has been a sparkling 5-2, with losses only to the top two finishers, so strides are taking place.
And the Scots were up for Saturday's challenge against their rivals from Lookout Mountain, who they have beaten just once in the last 16 matches. Last year on the mountain, Maryville did not take a single set in doubles or singles en route to a 9-0 defeat. This time, Maryville not only won a doubles match, but the home-standing Scots won two sets in singles and took two more matches to third-set tiebreakers.
Abby Diggs and
Alyssa Smith pulled off the doubles victory at the No. 2 position, winning 8-1 to improve their doubles record this year to 11-2.
Diggs at No. 5 singles then won her second set 7-6 (8-6) before falling 10-8 in the third-set tiebreaker. Smith won 7-6 (7-3) in her opening set at No. 4 singles before eventually dropping the third-set tiebreaker 10-6.
Elizabeth Shwaiko also played a strong match at No. 2 singles, losing 6-2, 7-5.
"Tough to lose 8-1 when so many matches were that close," Maryville head coach
Doug Corbett said. "We do need to step back and be proud of the progress our program has made. Alyssa and Abby were phenomenal in their doubles match.
"We have the opportunity to earn another chance at Covenant, and we look forward to it."
The Scots await their official placement in the CCS tournament bracket. Play begins Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Chattanooga Champions Club.
