Sasha Baer and Linnea Lindstrom made the trip to Sumter, South Carolina, for the NJCAA Women's National Tennis Championship, kicking off competition in a day that demanded patience and resilience.
Persistent rain delays pushed the start nearly 10 hours behind schedule, forcing players to take the court under the lights. Despite the disrupted routine, both athletes settled in and battled through early nerves with determination.
In the #2 flight, Lindstrom faced a tough opponent in Hinds (Mississippi). While she came up short, she remains in contention with opportunities ahead in both the singles consolation bracket and main draw doubles.
Baer, competing in the #1 flight, showed poise and progression throughout her match against Rowan College of New Jersey. After grinding out a 6–4 first set, she found her stride and delivered a commanding 6–0 second set to secure the win.
Baer now advances to a marquee matchup Sunday at 10:30 a.m., where she will take on tournament #1 seed Ivanna De Gregorio of East Central Community College (Mississippi). A live stream of the match will be available.
The duo of Lindstrom and Baer will also return to the court Sunday at 4 p.m. for doubles play, looking to build on their momentum and make a strong push in the main draw.