The Washington Catholic Cardinal tennis team proved that down does not necessarily mean out.

In spite of being way down in the first sets of four matches, the Cards rallied back to take a 3-2 win over Vincennes Rivet in the opening round of the Vincennes Lincoln Sectional on Friday. The matches were being played a day late after rain washed the Thursday attempt

The Cardinals had beaten Rivet, 5-0 earlier in the season, but things did not look good with senior Jodie Carie losing her opening set and No. 2 Samantha Hogan being down 4-1 in the early stages of her match. Kenna Bradley and Hillary Holland also dropped their first set and Caitlin McCain fell 6-4 in her No. 3 singles match.

“We just did not start well and seemed like we couldn’t pull ahead,” said WC coach Dave Carie. “But these girls have shown all year long that no matter what the score is they can come back.”

The lowest point may have come when Carie was the first to lose, 6-4 and 6-1 to Rivet’s Carly Carlisle. However. WC’s fortunes were about to change.

“We just came back all day long. These girls showed a lot of character. They played one point at a time and did not give up,” added Carie. “I can’t say enough. It was all girls, there was no coaching.”

Hogan would battle back and eventually take her first set 7-5 in a tiebreaker and then add a 6-4 win over Meredith Goodwin of Rivet.

“Sam is an athlete and she just works and works,” said Carie. “There is a reason that she is 14-1 this season.”

WC’s No. 1 single’s team of Jessica and Jordan Flynn took their first set over Emily Snider and Alexi Pea, 6-1, but then fell 6-3 in the second, before forcing a third set, that WC won 6-4. McCain dropped her second set 6-4 to Katelyn Hinkle to even the matches at 2-2, with everything coming down to the third set of the Holland-Bradley No. 2 match with Rachel Richardville and Taylor Ostendorf.

Rivet took the first set 6-2, but WC responded with a 6-4 second set. In the third set, down 5-4, WC was able to break serve and tied it 5-5. They then took the next two games and WC was able to earn a spot in the semifinals with Vincennes Lincoln today at 9 a.m.

“We have to give Rivet a lot of credit. They came in and played very hard. This could have very easily gone the other way,” said Carie.

The Lady Hatchets and South Knox also square off at 9 a.m.