ORLANDO, Fla. – The Carson-Newman women's tennis team opened the season with an 8-1 loss to Florida Tech on Friday afternoon at the USTA National campus.
"The women got off to a slow start in doubles play," Carson-Newman coach Jean Love said. "We dug a hole early and couldn't climb out of it. We just didn't execute in doubles and left opportunities out on the court in singles play."
The last time the Eagles lost on opening day was on Feb. 7, 2015 against Young Harris. The last time the women's tennis team lost 8-1 to begin the season was during the 2013 campaign. That year the Eagles began the season with an 8-1 loss to Alabama-Huntsville and a 9-0 loss to Young Harris.
The lone victory for Carson-Newman (0-1) came at the No.3 singles spot. Freshman Alisa Liashova (Ukraine) dropped her first set 5-7 before winning the last two sets 6-3, 10-6 over Florida Tech's (1-0) Lauren Stuckey. Liashova was the only Eagle tennis player to not be swept in straight sets.
Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference second-team performers Ali Harris (Crossville, Tenn.) and Jill Corsato-Owsianka (Germany) got off to a rough start getting swept at both the No.1 and No.2 singles positions. Harris lost 6-2, 6-4 to Alahna Reto at No.1 singles and Corsato-Owsianka fell 6-1, 7-6 to Kayla Hergott at No.2 singles.
Lindy Tatum (Henderson, Tenn.) and Klara Vuckovic (Germany) both made their first career starts for Carson-Newman on Friday afternoon. Tatum fell 6-1, 6-0 to Paloma Vela in the No.5 singles position. Vuckovic did not fare much better as she lost 6-2, 6-1 to Erin Egoroff at the No. 4 position. Sydeny Ledington closed out singles play for the Eagles with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Maria Chun at the No.6 position.
The No.1 doubles team of Corsato-Owsianka and Liashova lost a close match to Panthers No.1 duo Stuckey and Chun, 9-8. Harris and Tatum fell at No.2 doubles to the Panthers tandem of Reto and Meritt Rabson, 8-6. Ledington and Vuckovic rounded out doubles play with a loss to Egoff and Vela, 8-3.
The Carson-Newman women's tennis team play's again on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m. against Palm Beach Atlantic.