MACON, Ga. – Sophomore Juliana Craft ignored the pain and blocked out all the sets of eyes focused on her match.
 
It wasn't easy.
 
Craft was cramping and being pushed to a third set in a match that was tied. It was ultimately the set that decided the match. Beneath her calm demeanor, Craft was nervous, but she found a way to display unwavering grace under pressure.
 
Craft showcased a reservoir of resiliency, tenacity, and heart in winning her match, which in turn helped the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's tennis team capture a memorable 4-3 victory over Mercer in a Southern Conference thriller Saturday afternoon.
 
The victory was also Paul Thomson's first as head coach of the UNCG program. He was hired on Feb. 15.
 
"It was super windy today," Craft said. "I was able to keep the ball in play and stay fired up and engaged through the conditions. I decided to start going after the ball more when I was cramping up to stay out of longer points. It was super stressful with all eyes on my court going into a third set when I was as tight as I was."
 
Craft won her match at No. 3 singles by a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 count. Craft along with Erika Barquero and Olivia Gallagher prevailed in their singles matches in straight sets. For Barquero, her 6-4, 6-4 conquest was her team-leading fifth singles win of the season. Gallagher's 6-1, 6-2 win was her fourth of the season.
 
The Spartans set the tone for the victory by winning two of the doubles matches beginning with Gallagher and McCollough Perry cruising to a 6-1 victory at No. 3. Mercer won at No. 2 doubles to force the supreme battle at No. 1 for the prized doubles point.
 
Fortunately for Thomson, the Spartan No. 1 doubles team of Barquero and Ariana Chan continued their excellence by winning 6-2. They have won three straight doubles matches as a top tandem.
 
"I am so happy for these girls," Thomson said. "Tough match yesterday and a quick turnaround. They earned this win today. So proud of them and happy to be their coach. Getting the doubles point was big today. What an effort for JC. Huge clinch for our team and she never gave up. She stayed so strong during a tough third set with all eyes on her court."
 
This was a perfect finish to a grueling stretch of matches in which seven of eight were on the road. UNCG played less than 24 hours earlier in Birmingham and then drove the two hours to Macon to meet the Bears.
 
UNCG returns to action on Sunday, March 27 when it hosts UNCW beginning at noon.
 
"Today felt super special and it is so nice to see the team finally come together for a conference win," Craft said. "I'm super proud of my teammates for the fight everyone had. It's nice to see things finally come together. It was emotional in a good way and I'm proud to have been able to represent today."
 
Results
Singles
Erika Barquero (UNCG) d. Mary Courville, 6-4, 6-4
Naya Tillet (MER) d. Ariana Chan, 6-4, 6-2
Juliana Craft (UNCG) d. Lauren Rich, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Lekha Varudandi (MER) d. Eugenia Camacho, 6-2, 7-5
Alara Hollyfield (MER) d. Hannah Mitchell, 6-4, 6-2
Olivia Gallagher (UNCG) d. Francesca Francci, 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles
Barquero and Chan (UNCG) d. Tillet and Courville, 6-2
Rich and Yordanaa (MER) d. Craft and Mitchell, 6-2
Gallgher and McCollough Perry (UNCG) d. Hollyfield and Francci, 6-1