ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Caroline Doyle and sophomore Melissa Lord were in action on the opening day of competition at the NCAA Singles Championship.
Less than 24 hours after Stanford fell 4-1 to Florida in Tuesday's NCAA team final, Doyle dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Shannon Hudson of Arkansas while Lord outlasted Georgia Tech's Johnnise Renaud 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Doyle wrapped up her career on The Farm with an 18-16 overall record and 9-12 dual mark. Ranked No. 38 nationally, Doyle held down the No. 1 spot for the Cardinal since late March. A three-time All-Pac-12 Second-Team honoree, Doyle compiled a 103-43 overall singles record in her career. Doyle was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Women's At-Large second team, in addition to being selected as the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Three weeks ago, Doyle was recognized as the ITA Northwest Region's Senior of the Year Award honoree.
Lord is Stanford's highest-ranked player at No. 28 and has successfully made the transition from the back courts to the stadium. Unbeaten in 10 NCAA team matches, Lord improved to 29-5 overall while leading the Cardinal with 12 victories over nationally-ranked foes. Lord, who captured her first career singles title back in January at the Freeman Memorial Championships, was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team and also recognized as the ITA Northwest Region's Player to Watch.
Senior Taylor Davidson also earned a berth in the singles field but decided to withdrawl prior to Wednesday's competition.
In doubles, Davidson and freshman Emily Arbuthnott will play their first match on Thursday afternoon against Alabama's Maddie Pothoff and Erin Routliffe. The Cardinal's top duo and ranked No. 39 nationally, Arbuthnott and Davidson have compiled a 17-9 overall record and 14-7 dual mark. Arbuthnott and Davidson reached the quarterfinals of the Freeman Memorial Championships.
NCAA SINGLES FIRST ROUND
May 24: No. 28 Melissa Lord d. No. 36 Johnnise Renaud (GTECH) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
May 24: No. 45 Shannon Hudson (ARK) d. No. 38 Caroline Doyle (STAN) 6-3, 6-1
NCAA SINGLES SECOND ROUND
May 25: No. 28 Melissa Lord vs. No. 6 Belinda Woolcock (FLA) - 10 a.m. PT
NCAA DOUBLES FIRST ROUND
May 25: No. 39 Arbuthnott/Davidson (STAN) vs. No. 5 Maddie Pothoff/Erin Routliffe (ALA) – 3 p.m. PT