Women’s Tennis’s Emily Welker Comes up Short in NCAA Singles Semifinals – Ole Miss Athletics

ORLANDO, Fla.  –  Ole Miss women’s tennis’s Emily Welker lost in the NCAA Singles Semifinals on Saturday morning in Orlando, Florida.
 
No. 67 Welker faced off against No. 113 Berta Passola Folch of California in the NCAA Singles Semifinals. In the first set, Welker struggled to keep up with Folch, for she lost, 2-6. However, Welker recovered in the second set as she won, 6-4, to force a third set.
 
The third set became a marathon for both Welker and Folch, for it went to a tiebreaker. Initially, it looked as if Folch was going to swiftly secure the tiebreaker, for she jumped out to a 1-5 lead against Welker.
 
Welker responded with three unanswered points to bring the tiebreaker within one point at 4-5. However, Folch fended off Welker’s late push to win the set, 6 (7) – 7 (9), ending Welker’s tenure in Orlando.
 
Welker leaves the tournament as an NCAA Singles All-American and as the first Rebel since 2018 to advance to the NCAA Singles Semifinals.
 
Welker’s Run:
Round of 64 – defeated No. 88 Lavinia Tanasie (NC State), 6-2, 6-1
Round of 32 – defeated No. 45 Valeria Ray (Vanderbilt), 2-6, 6-0, 6-3
Round of 16 – Won by forfeit against No. 26 Lily Jones (Michigan).
Quarterfinals – defeated No. 106 Savannah Dada-Mascoll (Appalachian State), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
Semifinals – Lost to No. 113 Berta Passola Folch (California), 2-6, 6-4, 6 (7)-7 (9)
 
SATURDAY’S RESULTS:
Singles:
No. 113 Berta Passola Folch (California), def. No. 67 Emily Welker (Ole Miss), 6-2, 4-6, 7 (9)-6 (7)
 
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