JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Heading into the 2024 spring slate, the Carson-Newman women's tennis team has been picked to finish 7th in the preseason SAC poll.
The Eagles slot in the preseason poll right behind Limestone and just ahead of Lenoir-Rhyne.
Despite a 4-14 campaign the following season, the Eagles strung together three straight wins in April over Lincoln Memorial, UVA Wise, and Mars Hill. Despite a closely contested 4-3 loss to ranked in-state rival Tusculum, the Eagles showed steady signs of improvement to take into the 2023-24 season.
Under first-year head coach Jon Parker, C-N boasts an impressive amount of returning talent in singles, led by Anita Chornei and Natasha Forrest. Chornei and Forrest had solid fall seasons, as Chornei tallied three singles wins, and Forrest gathered four. Chornei and Forrest were also impressive In the spring of 2023, as Chornei earned a 9-9 record in the No. 1 spot while Forrest went 13-5 in the No. 3 slot.
Julia Speiser also provides a wealth of experience for the Eagles, competing in over 50 matches in her C-N career, tallying five wins a year ago and two in the fall season.
Additionally, C-N brings in an impressive freshman talent in Leah McBride, who, in the fall, reached the round of 16 in an intimidating field at the ITA Championships. Despite falling to top-seeded Nadia Meier in the round of 16, McBride pulled off a pair of wins, including a ranked upset over Wingate's Fernanda Castillo, who held the No. 32 seed.
In doubles play, the Eagles return a highly-touted duo in Summer Reeves and Natasha Forrest. While the two saw limited action together last year, the duo led the way for the Eagles in the fall, earning three wins.
With returning talent and an impressive newcomer, C-N looks to compete at a high level in the spring. The Eagles kick off the 2024 spring season at home on February 3rd against North Georgia.
