Box Score John Carroll has not trailed after doubles play in many conference matches during its four-year run atop the Ohio Athletic Conference. 

Try zero times in the last 35.

One would have to go back to April 11 of 2015 to find the last time the Blue Streaks were on the negative side of the ledger following doubles play. On that day, JCU was down 2-1 to Otterbein before rallying for a 5-4 win.

Ironically, Otterbein would be the team four years and a day later who had the opportunity to put the Blue Streaks behind. 

But a stout effort by the number two team of Megan Reese and Skye Harwood prevailed in a tense tiebreaker, giving the Blue Streaks a 2-1 advantage on their way to a 7-2 victory against the Cardinals Friday evening at the Cleveland State Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.

Lauren O'Malley and Madisyn Rini won easily at number one doubles, and it appeared the number three team of Alyssa Krupp and Carlye Campagna were on their way as well, taking a 7-1 lead. But credit to the Otterbein tandem of Madison Mueller and Kristen Zink, who rallied for six straight wins to force a tiebreaker. JCU had match point at 6-5, but the Cards won the final three points got a stunning 8-7 triumph.

That left it to the number twos. Reese and Harwood had a 7-4 lead, but Mariella Briones and Jordyn Traxler fought back to force a tiebreaker, Reese and Harwood built a 5-2 lead in the decisive game, but Otterbein rallied to knot the score at 5-5. The Blue Streak team shook it off and claimed the final two points for victory.

Once John Carroll got to singles, the match was closed out quickly as O'Malley (#1), Rini (#2) and Reese (#3) all won in straight sets to cement the win.

Krupp (#4) also won in straight sets while Harwood (#6) won in a tiebreaker for JCU's seventh and final point.

John Carroll is now 11-4 overall and 6-0 in the OAC. Otterbein slips to 12-2 and 3-1 in league play.