HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman jumped out to a quick lead after sweeping doubles play, leading to an 8-1 victory over Martin Methodist at the Lincoln Memorial Roundup at the LMU Tennis Complex.
The doubles sweep marked just the second time this season that the Eagles have taken all three doubles matches. The last time being in the 9-0 shutout victory over Tennessee Wesleyan on Feb. 20.
"The ladies played well," head coach Jean Love said. "Sweeping the doubles was really good because we have struggled in doubles so far this season."
Martin Methodist (3-5), despite its best effort at the No. 1 doubles position, was not able to contain the C-N charge. Starting doubles action raid for Carson-Newman was the No. 3 tandem of Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Mallory Jackson (Erwin, Tenn.), taking a powerful 8-0 blanking over Jennifer Wilson and Darby Tompkins.
The All-South Atlantic Conference Preseason Doubles Second Team duo of Alisa Liashova (Ukraine) and Klara Vuckovic (Germany) teamed up for the first time since the 2017 campaign as the pair snagged an 8-2 advantage over Miriam Sanchez and Siria Dibe at the second-seeded spot.
The top-seeded C-N pairing of Jill Corsato-Owsianka (Düesseldorf, Germany) and Abby Reis (Des Moines, IA.) faced a relentless Martin Methodist pair in Brenda Rique and Skylar McDonald, ultimately winning the match, 8-6 to give the Eagles an early 3-0 lead. This was the third win for the Eagle duo.
The first four singles matches fell in favor of Carson-Newman, starting with No. 6 Jackson picking up her first win of the season in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-3. This was also her first singles match of the season.
The fifth and fourth singles matchups followed Jackson's win. No.5 Vuckovic won back-to-back 6-1 sets before Liashova took a straight-set victory, 6-1 and 6-3.
At the second-seeded position, Reis fell to Rique in an 8-3 decision for Martin Methodist's lone win of the evening.
Price, the No. 3 singles player, took an 8-5 advantage over Sanchez before top-seeded Corsato-Owsianka went into a three-set tiebreaker with McDonald. McDonald took a 6-3 first set before Corsato-Owsianka battled back in the second, 6-4, forcing a third set that she won, 10-5.
The senior now has 37 singles wins in her career. She is one win away from tying Patricia Guerreiro for most career singles victories this decade.
"Strong singles play was turned in by Jill (Corsato-Owsianka), Hannah (Price), Alisa (Liashoava), Klara (Vuckovic) and Mallory (Jackson)," Love mentioned. "Jill came back from a set down to win in a third set tiebreaker in a hard fought match. The others won in straight sets. It was a solid performance for us."
The Eagles now get to enjoy a few days away from competition after a busy week of action. With Sunday's regularly scheduled match against Converse being postponed, C-N next takes to the court on March 3 hosting Bellarmine. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
