CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's women's tennis team couldn't find their rhythm against Lee University and were defeated by the Flames for the first time in seven years Thursday afternoon.
Coming off of a win against Lee last year and a shutout against Virginia Wise last Sunday, the Eagles were ready heading into the match. But despite taking a trio of games to 7-5, Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) was the only one to win a set against the Flames at the No. 3 singles position.
"I was disappointed with our effort," Coach Jim Frederick said of the women. "We gave in when things got tough, and our doubles game needs a lot of work."
The doubles competition as Frederick mentioned was not much of a contest it seemed for the Flames. The No. 2 doubles match finished first for the ladies as sophomores Price and Abby Reis (Des Moines, IA) fell to Francesca Tondi and Carley Sickinger 6-2.
The No. 3 and No. 1 positions ended in similar fashion and had a matching score. At No. 1, the freshman/senior duo of Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and Ali Harris (Crossville, Tenn.) were defeated by Asia Grzegrzolka and Micaela Belen Maiz 6-4. At No. 3, juniors Alisa Liashova (Ukraine) and Klara Vuckovic (Germany) dropped their match against Lisa Kirr and Lauren Trammell 6-4 as well.
Harris was the first to finish in singles play at the No. 2 position for the Eagles as she fought in the first set giving Carley Sickinger good competition only losing 7-5. The second set proved more challenging for Harris as she fell 6-4. Ana Carla finished second in the No. 1 position similar to Harris. Losing the first set just 7-5 but falling 6-2 in the second.
Now down 3-0, all eyes turned to the last four singles matches in hopes that they would win out and save the Eagles from the unexpected loss. Price looked as if she would pull out the first win for the Eagles of the day, she dropped the first set 6-2 against Lee's Asia Grzegrzoka but came back and won the second 6-1. Despite having the momentum going into the third set, she couldn't hold her own and fell 6-3 to decide the match in the Flames' favor.
Reis finished fourth for the Eagles at the No. 5 position falling to Lisa Kirr 6-2, 6-2. Liashova played in the No. 4 spot for C-N and was defeated by Micaela Belen Maiz 6-3, 6-4. Rounding out the singles play for the ladies was Klara Vuckovic at the No. 6 position competing hard for her teammates in the first set and narrowly dropping it 7-5. But Lauren Trammell of Lee was too much to handle in the second defeating Vuckovic 6-2 in the second set and final match of the day.
The Eagles look to come back from the 7-0 loss to the Flames as they travel to Sewanee, Tennessee on Sunday to face The University of the South. For more updates and information check back on cneagles.com.
- CN -
