JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.– For the first time since 2000-01, Carson-Newman women's tennis (13-3, 7-1 SAC) has won back-to-back matches against their east Tennessee rival, the Tusculum Pioneers. The two programs met on Wednesday from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex in Jefferson City as the SAC season rolled on.
Looking to avoid the incoming severe weather, the programs moved their scheduled meeting up two hours as well as started with singles action before taking part in doubles play. Nevertheless, it was the hometown Eagles claiming a 5-2 victory and their second straight victory over the Pioneers.
"Today showcases how talented this conference is and how much we cannot expect an easy win," head coach Jim Frederick said. "This is a huge win for us and something that we can use to continue momentum as the season rolls on especially with our two matches coming up on Friday and Saturday."
The two sides started off Wednesday action with singles as one, three, and five flights would be first on the courts.
Singles competition saw the Eagles claim four out of six matches, as they would officially clicn the match result prior to doubles even commencing.
The lead got started for C-N as senior Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) stepped up and handled her own in the number one position. The Brazil native continued to mark her C-N legacy as she would win 6-1, 6-2 over Tusculum's Belcher. She would be joined in the victories of the first round of flights by junior Natasha Forrest (Jersey, United Kingdom) who played at number five, winning 6-7, 6-4, 6-2.
As the first round of singles looked to close out, the Eagles could not go 3-0 as they saw sophomore Violetta Khisamova (Yaroslavl, Russia) falter at number three by scores of 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 as Tusculum's Floeth put the Pioneers on the board and made it 2-1 overall.
From there, numbers two, four, and six singles all played as both sides looked to claim full control and clinch the match before the weather impended action and doubles play took place.
First, sophomore Summer Reeves (Maidstone, Kent, England) looked to move the Orange and Blue one match away from an overall clincher. However, she would be bested by her Tusculum opponent by scores of 2-6, 4-6 as the sides became event at two apiece.
The next finish came from graduate student Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) at number four singles as she moved C-N ahead 3-2 with her win by scores of 6-3, 6-3. The Eagles would then turn all their attention to Anita Chornei at number six, who was in firm control by the time of Price's finish.
The junior has been steady for head coach Jim Frederick and the Eagles as they were once again elated to see the Ukraine native claim a win as she won 6-1, 6-4. This officially gave C-N the match win as the Eagles and Pioneers would soon get doubles play started.
"We knew we could go out there and win, but to do it with our singles action first speaks volume for the girls," Frederick said. "I'm excited to see how the girls continue rolling and if they can continue their momentum into the rest of this week."
Once doubles play got started, it was no doubt who was in control as the Orange and Blue won all three flights in order to leave no fluctuation with the end result. First, Hannah Price and Natasha Forrest would take the win at number one by a final of 6-2.
The Eagles kept it rolling with Ana Carla Resende and Summer Reeves taking the number two doubles action with a win of 6-4. Finally, C-N saw freshman Maria Ulloa (Cuba) in rare doubles competition as she paired with Julia Speiser at number three, winning 7-6.
The Eagles will now prepare for two crucial road matchups on Friday and Saturday as they trek to Newberry for a meeting with a top-20 Wolves program. From there, it will be a trip to the Queen City on Saturday to face the Queens (N.C.) Royals at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman women's tennis via cneagles.com and on all social media accounts.
