Women's tennis struggles over break in South Carolina

The Bradley women's tennis team returned from a spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C., where it served up one win and four losses.

The team's record now stands at 3-7.

The women defeated Lehigh 7-2 on March 15, winning all doubles matches and four out of six singles.

Other Spring Break opponents included teams from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Richmond, Radford and Southern Illinois University.

"The trip was great considering that the last time we went, we were stuck in the snow," said senior Mercedes Delamar.

In 1993, the men's and women's teams were stuck in the middle of a snowstorm, and it took them five days to reach their destination.

This year, the team saw plenty of sunshine and even a group of fans.

Three members of the men's team--junior Mike Peterson, senior Mark Bacys and sophomore Juan Azcarate--and the parents of three players traveled to Hilton Head to cheer on the women's team.

"We were really glad to have them come along and support us," Delamar said. "The guys came to every match."

The trip was tiring for the women with matches being played all but one day of Spring Break.

"We weren't used to having matches every day," Delamar said. "But the team is in better shape now and looking forward to victory at home this week."

"It'll make us stronger, and hopefully help us out in the long run," said senior Katie Borgstrom. "We improved and had a lot of fun--and that's what Spring Break is all about."

Borgstrom, who plays No. 1 singles for the women's team, has been suffering from a wrist injury, but played and won the matches in which she felt the most pain, she said.

The women's team will play at 1 p.m. today at the River City Racquet Club against the University of Illinois-Chicago and at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Bradley Park against the University of Hawaii.