Carson-Newman Begins Fall Slate with LMU Invitational
The Carson-Newman women's tennis team heads to Harrogate, Tennessee to start the 2025 fall season in the LMU Invitational.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's tennis team starts its fall season on Sunday at the LMU Invitational, hosted by SAC counterpart Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate, Tennessee.
Head coach Nathan Gangelhoff begins his second season at the helm of the Eagles, marking his first fall campaign. Gangelhoff arrived in December of 2024, in between the fall and spring seasons.
Carson-Newman had a pair of preseason scrimmages to prepare for fall, including the Mossy Creek Dual from September 4 to 6 against King and Montreat, followed by a week later against the same teams at King.
In Gangelhoff's first year, he guided the women's team to a 13-6 record with a 9-3 mark in SAC play. The Eagles peaked as high as No. 44 on March 26 in the ITA polls. C-N saw its season come to an end in the SAC Quarterfinals, falling to No. 50 Coker, 4-3.
Only two players from last season's team have departed, with the other eight players all back for another year.
Returning for the Eagles is a pair of All-South Atlantic Conference players, Maria del Mar Sarda Marti, notched Second Team. In her first season in Mossy Creek, del Mar Sarda Marti finished 16-1, with an 8-1 record in singles. When paired in doubles with Emma Sanchez Jimenez, the duo of Spaniards went 9-3 on the court.
Among the upperclassmen returners is junior Leah McBride, who went 10-7 last year, while Hala Awad aims to build on her 9-3 record from a year ago and Sindija Manovska went 7-6. Looking to build on their limited freshman seasons are Andrea Aguiar, Kira Baacke, and Mar Fraile.
Gangelhoff has added some new pieces, including Belen Blasco, who heads to Jefferson City for her graduate season following four years at Louisiana State University of Alexandria. While Katarina DiNova, Mia Dyer, Kerrigan Spiers and Abinaya Sweeton prepare for their freshman seasons at Carson-Newman.
A familiar face is back, but in a new role. Edisa Hot will be on the sidelines, joining Gangelhoff's staff as a graduate assistant coach after being the No. 1 for the Eagles last season.
Following this weekend, the Eagles will prepare for the ITA Regionals in Sumter, South Carolina, beginning on September 24.
