Season debut for the Eagles set for Wednesday at Newberry

Jean Love Interview 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.—After three fall cancellations due to rain and other inclement weather, the Eagles are finally set to begin their 2016 season with a trip to Newberry to face the Wolves Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.

The match will also kickoff Carson-Newman's South Atlantic Conference slate of the season.

"It is a little bit different opening up with a SAC opponent," coach Jean Love said. "This is the first time that I have set the schedule up this way. Due to the weather, this is how it turns out this year, but it really doesn't add much pressure. We are just ready to play."

After completing the 2014-2015 season with a 7-10 (4-7 SAC) mark, the Eagles will be looking to improve on the win/loss record this season by taking the first meet of the young season over Newberry on Wednesday's matinée. 

The last time these two conference foes clashed was last season at Carson-Newman. The Eagles endured their fifth loss of the season en route to a 5-4 defeat on March 28^th.

This year's squad will be led by three experienced seniors in Patricia Guerreiro (Portugal), Haleigh Chastain (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Brooke Sanderson (Evans, Ga.). The trio combined for 27 singles wins and Guerreiro was also tabbed an Honorable Mention from the SAC for her part in doubles play a season ago.

Along with the three aforementioned, C-N returns four others from last year's squad and also welcomes freshmen Hannah Ayers (Woodstock, Ga.), Merry Carson (Huntsville, Tenn.), Ali Harris (Crossville, Tenn.) and Gabrielle Wood (Woodstock, Ga.) into the mix this season.

Newberry, who was slated fifth by the league in the preseason poll, returns a fairly balanced squad that will line up against the Eagles Wednesday afternoon. Wolves coach Mark Gardiner has three seniors, juniors and sophomores each at his deposal, as well as one freshman in Paula Avellan.

Amanda Carrillo and Vanessa Ortiz are back and were tabbed to the All-SAC doubles preseason team following a 14-8 overall record.  Carrillo was also named to the singles squad after completing last season with an 18-3 record. Elizabeth Williamson was another Wolf who accepted a preseason accolade upon finishing her sophomore campaign with a 17-5 record.

"Year in and year out, they have had a pretty balanced team," Love said. "Their strength is probably the depth of their lineup. The top of their lineup is solid and the bottom of their lineup is solid. That's what I have experienced with Newberry in recent years." 

To keep up with everything Carson-Newman tennis related, follow us on twitter at @CNathletics. A full recap of the Eagles' first match of the season against Newberry can be found on cneagles.com following the match Wednesday evening.  

-CN-