KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's tennis team drops only one match against Virginia-Wise as they earn their first win this season at the Knoxville Racquet Club.
The Eagles haven't faced Virginia-Wise since September of 2014 where they swept the Cavaliers 9-0. This time around concluded in a similar fashion as the ladies won 7-0.
"It went pretty much as we expected," Coach Jim Frederick said of women's efforts. "The girls dominated with the exception of one and two singles, and one doubles. They were very competitive matches."
The only loss of the day for the Eagles came from the No. 1 doubles position. The freshman-senior duo of Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and Ali Harris (Crossville, Tenn.) fell to the sisters from Ukraine, Katya and Liza Akimenko, 2,6. Having to win best two out of three to win the doubles point for the match, the Eagles in the second and third doubles positions took control. Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Abby Reis (Des Moines, IA) defeated Grace Hall and Montana Hill 6-0 while Alisa Liashova (Ukraine) and Claire Smith (Lexington, Ky.) came out on top against Aya Melhem and Lillian Morris 6-1.
"We competed well and did what we could," Coach Jim said. "The girls from Ukraine were very good, but we competed well in that match despite the loss."
The Eagles cranked out a couple bagels in singles competition and other than the No. 1 and No. 2 positions the Cavs didn't come close. Resende defeated Liza Akimenko coming back from dropping the first set 6-7. Handily winning the second set 6-1, she finished the tiebreaker on top 6-2. Harris narrowly held off Katya Akimenko in the second set at the No. 2 singles spot but was able to hold her own winning 6-4, 7-6.
Price handled her own at No. 3 for the Eagles defeating Aya Melhem 6-2, 6-1. Liashova and Reis got the bagels for the Eagles at No. 4 and No. 5 singles taking down Montana Hill and Grace Hall 6-0, 6-0 each. Smith rounded out the lineup at the No. 6 position for C-N taking down Olivia Dishner 6-2, 6-2.
"I was proud of how we played," Frederick said. "We took care of what we could control and didn't play to the level of competition. We're looking forward to the busy nine days ahead."
The Eagles will hit the courts again on February 14that Lee University. For information and results check back on cneagles.com.
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