Back and forth match goes Newberry's way as Eagles fall 5-4
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — For the first time this season, the Carson-Newman women’s tennis team (5-5, 3-3 SAC) have dropped three matches in a row as the Eagles fell to Newberry (14-4, 5-2 SAC) 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at the Carson-Newman Tennis Complex.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — For the first time this season, the Carson-Newman women's tennis team (5-5, 3-3 SAC) have dropped three matches in a row as the Eagles fell to Newberry (14-4, 5-2 SAC) 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at the Carson-Newman Tennis Complex.
"This was an extremely close match," coach Jean Love said after the loss. "It really came down to a handful of points in doubles and singles matches and unfortunately we did not win those big points."
A competitive match, which experience many lead changes, was in store for all who were in attendance. After falling behind 2-0 initially, Patricia Guerreiro (Portugal) and Jennifer Ott (Knoxville, Tenn) put the Eagles on the scoreboard first with their 8-4 victory in No. 3 doubles.
With the exception of back-to-back victories by Jill Corsato-Owsianka (Germany) and Guerreiro in singles, Carson-Newman and Newberry traded wins for the rest of the day after Mallory Jackson (Erwin, Tenn) fell 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Corsato-Owsianka won at No. 2 6-4 in two sets and Guerreiro came out on top 6-2, 3-6, and 6-0 at No. 3.
Entering the final three matches of the day, the Eagles trailed by one and needed to take two of the three to secure an overall victory. When Ott was defeated 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4, it came down to Brooke Sanderson (Evans, Ga) and Haleigh Chastain (Knoxville, Tenn).
After winning a set one tiebreaker, Sanderson cruised to a victory at No. 5, winning 7-6 (5) and 6-2. Chastain then battled and forced a three set match, but ultimately fell 2-6, 6-2, and 7-4.
Carson-Newman will try to get back to their winning ways on Sunday, as they welcome Queens (N.C.) University Royals for a 1 p.m. match time.
