Winston-Salem, NC
– Livingstone College women's tennis earned a gritty 4–3 win over Winston-Salem State on March 14, rallying behind a strong singles performance to secure the road victory.
The afternoon opened with doubles play, where the Blue Bears grabbed early momentum.
Monica Castaldo and
Ashley Cooke battled through a tight set to take the first court, winning 7–5 and putting Livingstone on the board. Although the Rams answered by capturing the remaining two doubles courts, the Blue Bears carried their energy into singles competition.
Once individual play began, Livingstone quickly shifted the match in its favor. Strong outings across the lineup delivered points on multiple courts, including key wins over Mckinley Battle, Mikayla Stewart, and Kyla Burns.
Livingstone's resilience stood out in several come-from-behind efforts.
- Aiyra Johnson regrouped after a slow start and powered back to defeat Briana Drew, overcoming a 0–6 opening set to claim the second 6–1.
- Monica Castaldo showed similar fight against Stewart, matching Johnson's turnaround with her own 0–6, 6–1 performance.
- Ashley Cooke battled through a long, three‑set contest with Battle, finishing 6–3, 5–7, 3–6 in one of the day's closest matches.
Those victories ultimately pushed Livingstone over the top, sealing the 4–3 decision.
Match Results
Final Score: Livingstone 4, Winston-Salem State 3
LC Singles Winners
- A. Cooke def. M. Battle – 6–3, 5–7, 3–6
- M. Castaldo def. M. Stewart – 0–6, 6–1
- A. Garba def. K. Burns – 6–2, 6–0
- A. Johnson def. B. Drew – 0–6, 6–1
LC Doubles Winner
- M. Castaldo & A. Cooke – 7–5
Livingstone now turns its attention to the CIAA Round-Up, hosted by Bluefield State University in Bluefield, West Virginia, scheduled for March 20–22.