Women’s Tennis Has Strong Doubles Performance, Struggles in Singles at LMU Invitational
The Eagles started their fall slate at the LMU Invitational, winning eight of 10 doubles matches.
HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's tennis team started its fall campaign at the LMU Invitational. Lincoln Memorial hosted the five-team dual that also featured Lee University, along with fellow SAC counterparts, Tusculum and UVA Wise.
On Sunday, C-N only clashed with the hosts, Lincoln Memorial.
The start of two under Nathan Gangelhoff was an up-and-down day. It was a mix of returning players and a wave of new faces for the Eagles that led to success in doubles against the Railsplitters but faltered in the singles matches.
"I thought today's matches were extremely good in terms of team energy and a good example of all the stuff that we have been working on in the past two weeks," Gangelhoff said. "I was proud of our girls and doubles. After the first two rounds, we won eight of the 10 doubles with different combinations. We had different opponents each time, and our girls responded very well during those intense moments. In singles, we struggled a little bit."
RESULTS
Round 1
K. Baacke/M. Sarda (C-N) def. M. Melnichenok/A. Ortiz (LMU) 6-4
A. Pellizzari/L. Palud (LMU) def. H. Awad/B. Blasco (C-N) 6-2
K. Spiers/M. Fraile (C-N) def. C. Ramonet/L. Nastrini (LMU) 7-5
A. Aguiar/K. DiNova (C-N) def. M. Garcia/R. Clay-Booth (LMU) 6-2
M. Villanueva/M. Rodriguez (LMU) def. S. Manovska/A. Sweeton (C-N) 6-4
D. Loayza (LMU) def. M. Dyer (C-N) 6-4
Round 2
M. Melnichenok/A. Ortiz (LMU) def B. Blasco/H. Awad (C-N) 7-6
K. Spiers/M. Fraile (C-N) def. A. Pellizzari/L. Palud (LMU) 6-4
C. Ramonet/R. Carrier-Dulac (LMU) def. K. Baacke/M. Sarda (C-N) 6-4
M. Garcia/R. Clay Booth (LMU) def. S. Manovska/M. Dyer (C-N) 6-2
K. DiNova/A. Aguiar (C-N) def. M. Villanueva/M. Rodriguez (LMU) 7-6
L. Nastrini (LMU) def. A. Sweeton (C-N) 6-4
Round 3
M. Melnichenok/A. Ortiz (LMU) def. K. Spiers/M. Fraile (C-N) 7-5
A. Pellizzari/L. Palud (LMU) def. K Baacke/M. Sarda (C-N) 7-5
C. Ramonet/R. Carrier-Dulac (LMU) def. B. Blasco/H. Awad (C-N) 7-6
L Nastrini/M. Garcia (LMU) def. K. DiNova/A. Aguiar (C-N) 6-4
M. Villanueva/M. Rodriguez (LMU) def. M Dyer/A. Sweeton (C-N) 6-1
Singles Rounds
1. Hala Awad (C-N) def R. Carrier-Dulac (LMU) 4-6 6-1 10-8
2. M. Melnichenok (LMU) def. Abinaya Sweeton (C-N) 6-3 6-3
3. A. Pellizzari (LMU) def. Maria del Mar Sarda Marti (C-N) 6-4 6-3
4. Kerrigan Spiers (C-N) def. L. Palud (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
5. A. Ortiz (LMU) def. Belen Blasco (C-N) 6-1, 6-1
6. M. Rodriguez (LMU) def. Kira Baacke (C-N) 7-5, 6-0
7. L. Nastrini (LMU) def. Katarina DiNova (C-N) 6-3, 0-6, 10-8
8. Sindija Manovska (C-N) def. C. Ramonet (LMU) 6-2, 7-6
9. M. Villanueva (LMU) def. Andrea Aguiar (C-N) 6-3, 2-6, 10-2
10. M Garcia (LMU) def Mar Fraile (C-N) 7-5, 6-0
11. R Clay-Booth (LMU) def. Mia Dyer (C-N) 6-2, 6-1
The rainstorms that passed through East Tennessee played a factor. During the singles portion, both teams had to move indoors due to the inclement weather.
"We had to change venue as we moved indoors during the singles part, so it took us a little bit to get used to that different type of environment for tennis, but all our girls fought hard. They were able to keep a good competitive spirit," Gangelhoff said. We had some impressive wins from Hala, Kerrigan and Sindi as well, so we did fairly well."
Some of the Eagles will look to respond when they head to Sumter, South Carolina, for the ITA Fall Regionals starting on Thursday. Hala Awad and Maria del Mar Sarda Marti will make the trip for singles, while Awad will also pair up with Belen Blasco for doubles.
"Still, lots of stuff to work on, but it's still fairly early in the year," Gangelhoff said. "I told her girls I was proud of their spirit, proud of their fight and we have a lot of positives to work off of going forward for the rest of the fall and spring."
