JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's tennis is all geared up and ready for three home matches in three days Thursday, Friday and Saturday against Tennessee Wesleyan, Spartanburg Methodist, and North Georgia before jumping into conference play on March 9.
The Eagles are excited to play at Mossy Creek as their match against Virginia-Wise that was supposed to be at home was moved to the Knoxville Racquet Club due to rain.
"We're excited to play at home," Coach Jim Frederick said. "A lot of parents will be coming, and hopefully the weather will cooperate."
First in line to take on the Eagles in the three-day stretch is NAIA competition, Tennessee Wesleyan, on Thursday.
"I don't think the ladies are quite as good as their men," Coach Frederick said of the Lady Bulldogs. "But that's not the point, we've always said just play with good heard, good intensity, good attitude, good effort, and let the results take care of themselves."
The Lady Bulldogs came in 24th place on the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll at the conclusion of last season and are currently 2-3 in the 2019 campaign. This season, the Lady Bulldogs are comprised of three seniors and three freshmen with only one player from the United States. The Eagles have gone 4-0 against the Lady Bulldogs since 2010 and look to continue that streak on Thursday.
Moving into Friday, the Eagles will take on Spartanburg Methodist College. The Junior College team from Spartanburg, S.C. is currently 0-1 having lost to Converse College 7-0. There are five freshman and three sophomores on the team, all locals from South Carolina.
"Other than their record, I'm not familiar with the girls," Frederick said. "The mindset will stay the same. You can't play your best focused on what the result will be at the end of the match so we'll just control what we can control and go from there."
The last match of the home stretch will be a tough one for the Eagles against nationally ranked No. 13, North Georgia on Saturday. The Nighthawks are 5-1 overall only having lost to Saint Leo University who is ranked No. 7. The team is made up of three seniors, a solo junior, three sophomores and a pair of freshies for the 2019 season. This includes Vaishali Jorge, a sophomore from London, England who was named to the Peach Belt Conference's Preseason All-Conference Team.
"Their girls are good," Frederick said of the Nighthawks. "They're top 15 in the country, it'll be a good match to play."
Next week is spring break and the Eagles will get ready to face conference competition the following Wednesday.
Thursday's match against Tennessee Wesleyan and Friday's match against Spartanburg Methodist will both begin at 1 p.m. The match Saturday against the North Georgia Nighthawks will begin at 2 p.m.
For more information, location changes, results, and updates keep a close eye on cneagles.com.
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