Box Score FULTON, Mo. - In a match that lasted 6 hours and 28 minutes, Chloe Hecker's six-slot singles win sealed No. 23 William Woods University's (4-6) 4-3 victory over McPherson College (7-7) Friday at Suzanne Neal Memorial Tennis Complex.

"Today was a fight; the weather conditions were windy and cold, which made it tougher on everyone," William Woods tennis coach Abigail Lemberger Hughes said. "Our girls showed grit and determination to get through the dual and I am so proud to come out with a win. Overall, great result for us."

The Owls needed a strong showing in singles as the Bulldogs won the doubles point, with WWU dropping two of the three matchups.

In the first doubles contest to conclude, The Woods' Zara Littlejohn and Samya Sikand lost a 7-6 tiebreaker to Laureen Van Drunen and Pia Hinricher in the three slot.

The Owls took the second doubles matchup to finish, with Hanna Lindeboom and Mireia Simon Sanchez winning 6-3 over Alexa Garcia and Vanessa Hofer at the top position.

Unfortunately for Woods, the Bulldogs earned the doubles point after the Owls' Kristina Dimitrijevic and Sophia Hausner fell 6-3 to Taimi Nashiku and Isabella Ellerbee at the two line.

Nashiku gave McPherson a 2-0 advantage, opening singles play with a 6-0, 7-6 victory over Dimitrijevic.

Lindeboom, ranked 13th in the latest ITA NAIA women's tennis singles rankings, made it a one-point game for the Owls, beating Garcia 6-2, 6-4 at the one line. Her doubles partner tied it at 2 at the two slot for WWU as Simon Sanchez won 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 over Hofer. Sikand handed the Owls their first team lead, 3-2, when she prevailed 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 against Van Drunen at the four line.

McPherson pushed it to a game-deciding No. 6 singles matchup after Woods' Hausner fell 6-0, 6-4 to Hinricher at the five slot.

The Owls' Hecker and the Bulldogs' Ellerbee battled under the lights at Suzanne Neal, with WWU's freshman from Melbourne, Australia, coming out on top in the end, earning a thrilling, game-, set-, match-deciding 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 win.

William Woods (1-0 Heart of America Athletic Conference) has a short turnaround, taking the court just over 14 overs after the McPherson match finished to host Missouri Valley College (4-1, 0-0 Heart) in its Heart home opener at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Owls are 11-0 all-time against the Vikings, winning the most recent meeting 7-0 on March 16, 2024, in Marshall.