HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Carson-Newman women's tennis team leaves South Carolina with a solid 5-2 win over Coker on Saturday after stepping up in singles play and improving to 6-6 on the season.

"The girls should have won the doubles point," Coach Jim Frederick said. "But they responded after those matches and did well in singles. Every win was in straight sets and Claire Smith won after being down in her first set. She won 11 of the last 12 games."

Due to sickness, freshman Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) was unable to play in the match. Claire Smith (Lexington, Ky.) filled in her stead and played doubles with Ali Harris (Crossville, Tenn.) at No. 2. They were the only pair to get a doubles win defeating Zoe Heed and Kelli Stinchcomb 6-2. At No. 1, Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Abby Reis (Des Moines, IA) fell to Charlotte Clarke and Tamie Chew 6-3. At No. 3 doubles, Alisa Liashova (Ukraine) and Klara Vuckovic (Germany) were unable to win their match against Lea Weber and Kelli Hurt falling 6-4.

Moving into singles play, the entire lineup was moved up a position and the Eagles didn't let their doubles losses get to them as they won five out of six singles. Harris was the only one to fall as she played a tough first set against Clarke but ultimately fell 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 and No. 3 Price and Reis took control of their matches. Price defeated Chew 6-2, 6-4 while Reis got the dub against Heed 6-2, 6-4 as well.

Liashova handled her match with complete ease defeating Weber 6-1, 6-1. Vuckovic had a tough first set but in the end came out on top against Stinchcomb 7-5, 6-3. Smith rounded out the lineup for the Eagles at No. 6 winning her match against Hurt 6-4, 6-1.

The Eagles are back at home next Wednesday against Mars Hill as they continue conference play. For more information, results and updates check back on cneagles.com.

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