KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – It has been a long 331 days for Carson-Newman women's tennis since they last saw action on March 12, 2020, but the wait was worth it. The Eagles saw action against the Bulldogs of Union (Ky.), ultimately falling 4-3 Saturday at the Knoxville Racquet Club.
This marked the first time the Eagles and Bulldogs had met since March 2011 when the C-N ladies hushed the puppies 7-2. Saturday's matchup marked the beginning point of the spring season for both Union (Ky) and Carson-Newman teams.
With both teams playing their first dual match of the season, Union (Ky.) used the momentum gained from an early doubles point to pull ahead 1-0 while never looking back. The Eagles were also able to keep the doubles point close till the last point. junior Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and senior teammate Abby Reis (Des Moines, IA) suffered a 6-2 loss at No. 1 singles, but teammates Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Natasha Forrest (Jersey, United Kingdom) gained a valuable 6-3 victory in the No. 2 place. However, the No. 3 singles including freshman Julia Speiser and fellow freshman Summer Reeves (Maidstone, Kent, England) fell to Union (Ky.) by a score of 6-3 to give the Bulldogs the starting advantage.
Price and Forrest were able to keep their edge from doubles into their respective singles matches. Price, playing at the No. 3 spot, battled and came out with the 7-6, 6-1 victory to get the Eagles on the board. Forrest, at No. 5, kept her winning ways with a 7-6, 6-0 victory to start her sophomore campaign. Both of these were two crucial match points going the way of the Eagles, despite the overall 4-3 team defeat. The other singles victory for C-N came from No. 6 singles and freshman Julia Speiser. In her first career college match, Speiser came away with a 6-2, 6-2 win.
Junior Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) played in her normal No. 1 singles position, but was not able to overcome her opponent as she fell 6-1, 6-4. The preseason first-team selection by the South Atlantic Conference is now 20-7 in her career with all matches coming at the first spot.
Moving forward to next weekend, C-N head back to Knoxville next weekend for a pair of non-conference matchups against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders and Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb 13. Opening serve is set for 11 a.m. against Belmont Abbey before a 7 p.m. nightcap with Tennessee Wesleyan.
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