KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A pair of three-set matches that would go the way of the Flames will spell disaster for Carson-Newman women's tennis, falling 5-2 Saturday at the Knoxville Racquet Club.
It is the second straight season that the Flames have earned a victory against the Eagles, winning in 7-0 fashion in 2019. The Eagles move to 1-1 on the season after the first weekend of play.
After earning a forfeiture victory against Martin Methodist to put C-N in the win column to start the season, Lee rolled into Knoxville looking for a season-opening win of its own. With both teams playing their first dual match of the season, Lee used the momentum gained from an early doubles point to pull ahead 1-0 while never looking back.
At Nos. 5 and 6 singles, battles from Klara Vuckovic (Germany) and Alisa Liashova (Ukraine) would fall just short with Vuckovic falling 7-6, 3-6, 6-7 and Liashova dropping 7-5, 3-6, 3-6 in two crucial match points going the way of the Flames.
Sophomore Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) was able to help put C-N on the board with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles. The preseason first-team selection by the South Atlantic Conference is now 14-4 in her career with all matches coming at the first spot.
Freshman Tash Forrest (United Kingdom) was able to earn her first collegiate victory at No. 4 singles, sweeping her opponent 6-4, 7-5.
Moving forward to next weekend, the team returns back to the confines of the Knoxville Racquet Club for another pair of non-conference matchups against Milligan Saturday and King (Tenn.) Sunday. Opening serve is set for 2 p.m. against Milligan with a Sunday morning serve against King on 10 a.m.
