Natela Portshidze has been named the Great Midwest Athletic Conferences Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Month to conclude the 2013-14 season, as she helped lead the Senators to the Conference Championship.
Portshidze played a vital role in the entire tournament, but had the biggest effect in the tournament finals against #2 Cedarville on the Lady Jackets home courts. Davis & Elkins defeated Cedarville in the finals 5-3 as the matches were played to decision. The margin is even slimmer when you take into effect that the final unfinished match had Cedarville in the lead.
The finals began with doubles action and Portshidze teamed with Julia Hoehn to come from behind and give the Senators its only point in doubles. Cedarville took the #2 and #3 doubles and Portshidze and Hoehn trailed early in their match 4-0, but rallied and forced a tiedbreaker eventually winning the match 9-8 (7-5).
Portshidze then secured a point in singles, defeating Courtney Heydt 6-4, 6-4 in #3 singles as the Senators won four of the five singles matches that finished, but trailed in #2 singles that was left unfinished.