Interview: Jean Love
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.—The Carson-Newman women's tennis team picked up a 6-3 out-of-conference win over Bellarmine Friday afternoon at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex to record the Eagles' third-straight win.
"The key for us as always is to work on the things we need to do in order to be successful," coach Jean Love said following the win. "Doubles was big for us in getting off to a good start. Our first two doubles squads played the best they have probably played all season."
Once again, Carson-Newman (7-2) was able to get off to the fast start in doubles play by taking two of the three contests against the Knights (4-4) to begin the afternoon.
Jill Corsato-Owsinka (Germany) and Patricia Guerriero (Portugal) started things off with an 8-5 win in the first round matchup while Ali Harris (Crossville, Tenn.) and Brooke Sanderson (Evans, Ga.) teamed up a court over to take down a pair of Knights 8-1.
C-N's lone dropped contest in doubles play came in the third slot where Haleigh Chastain (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Mallory Jackson (Erwin, Tenn.) fell 8-5 to Sydney Thompson and Bess Fley.
Carson-Newman would carry the momentum over into singles play as the squad pulled off four straight wins to begin the round of play.
Harris downed Maggie Walroth 6-3, 6-1 in the first-seeded contest while Guerreiro handled Caitlin Hanley 6-1, 6-3 in the second round of action. Corsato-Owsianka took care of Nadia Sabie 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 and Sanderson rallied to win the tiebreaking set in the fourth-seeded match, 6-4, 4-6 and 14-12.
Having the match already being decided, the Eagles would not suffer the two singles losses at No. 5 and 6 that ended the day.
Gabrielle Wood (Woodstock, Ga.) fell 6-3, 6-0 to Thompson in the fifth-position and Jackson lost 6-2, 6-4 to Mairin Cotter in the sixth and final match of the day.
"This match was big for us because it allowed us to get out there against live to work on some things and we got the win," Love said. "That gives you some confidence moving forward."
Carson-Newman will be at it again Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. with a matchup against the defending South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate Bulldogs at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
A complete recap following Saturday's contest will be available at cneagles.com following competition.
-CN-
