Eagles prepare for three-match week
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Three matches in five days highlight an action-packed week for the Carson-Newman women’s tennis program.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Three matches in five days highlight an action-packed week for the Carson-Newman women's tennis program. After starting the 2022 SAC play last weekend, C-N (7-2, 2-0 SAC) will hit the road for a pair of matches while hosting one big-time matchup at home as they head to Newberry S.C. on Tuesday, and Cullowhee, N.C on Saturday.
The Eagles will see to the courts in Newberry against SAC foe Newberry Wolves (14-1, 3-1 SAC) on Tuesday before going back into non-conference action and hosting the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 AAC) on Thursday as they will then travel to Division I program Western Carolina (8-3, 1-1 SOCON) on Saturday.
Carson-Newman comes into SAC play after starting their SAC season with a perfect 2-0 weekend as they swept Coker 7-0 last Friday before securing a 6-1 victory over the Limestone Saints last Saturday from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
The 2022 version and SAC opener for C-N saw doubles play almost assuredly go the way of C-N as only one of the three matches against the Cobras saw more than seven games played between the two sides.
The closest doubles result came as Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) would once again be joined in number two doubles by sophomore Summer Reeves (Maidstone, Kent, England). The duo played the closest result on Friday as it was C-N claiming all three doubles matches after Resende/Reeves won 6-4.
"Great way to start the conference season, especially with how busy this upcoming week will be for our ladies," head coach Jim Frederick said.
As singles play started, the Eagles had no trouble continuing their momentum and winning every single matchup as all six only lasted the two-set minimum for a final decision.
The same was almost similar on Saturday as the Eagles would won the doubles point before dropping only one singles match en route to a 6-1 team win to gain their fifth straight win of the 2022 season.
Against the Saints, Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Natasha Forrest (Jersey, United Kingdom) played a clean 6-0 sweep to earn the first win for C-N. From there, Ana Carla Resende and Summer Reeves secured doubles for the Eagles as they won 6-4 in number two.
The singles portion saw Ana Carla Resende secure her second straight SAC win as she was victorious 6-3, 6-0 from number one singles. Then, Violetta Khisamova kept the winning alive as she would win 7-5, 6-1 at number three singles.
From number four singles, C-N saw Hannah Price continue her winning ways with a 6-1, 6-4 victory to officially move the score 4-0 for C-N. Therefore, her doubles partner Natasha Forrest played to a 6-2, 6-3 result from number five singles. Finally, in number six singles, Anita Chornei continued her hot start to SAC play with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
SCOUTING NEWBERRY
Carson-Newman will head to Newberry, S.C. on Tuesday riding a three-match win streak over the Wolves as they have not lost since March 2018 as the Eagles were defeated 7-2 on that day.
Since then, it has been a 6-1 and a pair of 5-2 results which have gone in favor of the Eagles. In last year's meeting, the Eagles gained the early advantage after winning doubles after taking two of the three matches.
The singles action was almost all in favor of C-N as well in order for the Eagles to pull away. Hannah Price left no doubt in her match as she came away with the 6-4, 6-3 result. Ana Carla Resende took number one singles, 6-2, 6-3. Natasha Forrest claimed a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Newberry. The last Eagle to win last season was Summer Reeves as she and her Wolves opponent went back-and-forth in a three-set thriller. Reeves lost the first set 6-2 before storming back and taking the next two sets by a 7-6, 6-2 result.
The most recent action came for Newberry as they picked up their third straight SAC win of the season after defeating Anderson on Sunday, 4-3. It was Anderson taking the doubles point after winning in number two and number three doubles.
The Trojans would also strike first in singles as they won at number two, but Newberry responded with a win at number four singles to get on the board. The match would be tied as the Wolves got another win from number six singles before taking over the lead as the number one singles match would go in their favor. Finally, the match was decided as it was Newberry taking number five singles and the overall win.
"We are united right now," said assistant coach Elias Fernandez. "The girls are really playing for each other."
SCOUTING TENN. WESLEYAN
The Eagles and Bulldogs squared off to start the 2020-21 season as it was C-N taking the 5-2 win from the Knoxville Racquet Club.
As both teams are still in the process of getting used to the unusual nature of playing in 2021, the Eagles took the early match momentum by gaining the valuable doubles point to take the early 1-0 match advantage. C-N gained the edge with victories in both no. 2 and no. 3 doubles by scores of 6-0 and 7-5.
When it came to singles play, Hannah Price and Julia Speiser were crucial wins to help the Eagles overcome the Bulldogs. Price, at the no. 3 singles, battled her way to a 6-1, 10-2 victory while Speiser, the no. 6 singles, came away with a 6-2, 6-2 singles victory. These were the two crucial match points going the way of the Eagles, despite the overall team defeat. Teammates Violetta Khisamova and Summer Reeves were the other singles victories which gave the Eagles their 5-2 edge.
So far in 2022, Tenn. Wesleyan has been perfect as they hold a 7-0 record and 4-0 conference record. Of their seven wins, five have been clean sweeps while the Bulldogs were tested in a 5-4 victory over the Sewanee Tigers and a 5-2 win over SCAD Atlanta.
Before coming to Jefferson City on Friday, Tenn. Wesleyan will play Cardinal Stritch University on Monday from the courts of McCallie High School in Chattanooga, Tenn.
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
For the first time in 12,032 days, it will be the Eagles versus Catamounts in dual meet fashion. C-N last squared off with Western Carolina in April 1989 as it was WCU winning 5-4. In the four previous meetings, C-N was a perfect 4-0 as they only allowed two points to WCU over the span (9-0, 9-0, 8-1, 8-1).
So far this season, Western Carolina has gone 8-3 including a 1-1 mark in the SOCON. Their last match came against North Carolina Central as the two programs played until the match was clinched as WCU came away with a 4-0 win.
The Catamounts only had to win one doubles match since N.C. Central did not field a no. 3 doubles team. From there, it was victories in no. 1, 3, and 6 singles which clinched the win for the Catamounts.
Opening serve between C-N and the Wolves is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday from the Oakland Tennis Center. On Thursday, it is a 2:00 p.m. first serve from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex. Finally, Saturday will see first serve between the Eagles and Catamounts at 3:00 p.m. from the Catamount Athletic Complex.
"This is a busy week for our girls as they play Newberry before playing again on Friday as we will then travel Saturday," Frederick said. "So far, I think the girls are showing that if we all play at our best, we could be dominant in our conference but slow starts can be our downfall."
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman women's tennis at cneagles.com and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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