Tough fight from Women’s Tennis just fall shy of #9 Wingate
The Eagles pushed one of the top ten teams in the nation to three sets in multiple matches after nearly securing the doubles point to drop the match 4-2.
VIDEO: Nate Gangelhoff Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Eagles pushed one of the top ten teams in the nation to three sets in multiple matches after nearly securing the doubles point to drop the match 4-2.
"I was super proud of our girls being able to fight and to play extremely well when they needed to against a really good team," said head coach Nate Gangelhoff. "They knew that they were a highly ranked team, but it really looked like the our girls knew that they could go toe-to-toe with them."
It began in doubles with a great win from Hala Awad and Abinaya Sweeton at first doubles. The pair took down Anastasia Oktiabreva and Daniela Kotara 6-4. Then, Kira Baacke and Maria del Mar Sarda Marti fell at the second line 6-4. Mar Fraile and Leah McBride dropped their match by a score of 7-5 after being up 5-0.
With the Eagles down one, Abinaya Sweeton couldn't capitalize on her doubles momentum, dropping her match 6-2, 6-1 at fourth singles. Sweeton is 2-2 in her singles matches this season.
Then, Maria del Mar Sarda Marti went down 6-2, 6-2 at third singles to put the Bulldogs up three. She is 4-5 this season in solo play.
Hala Awad continued to cruise in this match. The senior took a 7-5, 6-4 win over Wingate's #1 Anastasiia Oktiabreva. Oktiabreva was the #34 player in Division II. The senior has now won her last five singles matches in a row. She is 8-1 this season in singles.
"She doesn't hesitate. She knows her game. She knows the way she can play. She knows her game can hurt many players and that she's incredibly strong and confident in it," Gangelhoff said.
Leah McBride also took a win at fifth singles over Daniela Kotara by scores of 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. McBride brought the Eagles back in the match to be down by just one point.
Unfortunately, Mar Fraile fell at sixth singles 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. The freshman battled to stay in the match, but could not hold off the Bulldogs. At second singles, Kerrigan Spiers match went unfinished, but the freshman was down in the final set. The score of her match was tied 1-1 and there was a 4-3 score in the final set before the Bulldogs clinched.
Hopefully, this experience helps us learn that when it's time to close, you do not hesitate. And when the opportunity presents itself, you close with no hesitation, no being scared," said Gangelhoff.
Now the Eagles are 6-8 on the season and 3-4 in SAC play. Wingate is still an undefeated 7-0 in league play.
The Eagles will move on to Tuesday when they welcome the #43 Lee Flames to Jefferson City. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
