MARS HILL, N.C.– Not one, not two, not three… but make it 10 straight victories for one of the hottest women's tennis programs in SAC play, Carson-Newman women's tennis (12-2, 6-0 SAC). As they continue to embark through SAC play, the Eagles were on the road to face off with a familiar foe in Mars Hill Wednesday. The Eagles were looking for their seventh straight win in the series, including a third straight road victory over the Lions.
C-N did not mess around as they easily handled business and won 7-0 for the third consecutive meeting as the Eagles have not lost since dropping a match to DIII Sewanee in mid-February. Meanwhile, against the Lions, the Orange and Blue have not lost since a 6-3 result back in April 2014.
Wednesday was all about early momentum for C-N as the Eagles come out strong to garner the doubles point and the early 1-0 advantage. The early match action would see C-N capture all three doubles match, as C-N only dropped more than three games in one match.
"The girls have been extremely solid so Wingate better expect a battle on Saturday," graduate coach Gabriel Dabdab said. "Saturday will be a battle of two of the best teams in the conference."
The Eagles got on the board first as Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and Summer Reeves (Maidstone, Kent, England) took home a 6-1 win from number two doubles. The Eagles were in a prime spot to sweep doubles and would clinch the doubles point as both number two and three action fell their way as well.
At number three doubles, Violetta Khisamova (Yaroslavl, Russia) and Julia Speiser played their hearts out to hold the momentum for C-N and push the Eagles ahead 1-0 on the scoreboard. In one of the day's most competitive matches, it was Khisamova/Speiser winning 6-4 as the doubles point would be secured by C-N in the process.
Finally, in number one doubles, Hannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Natasha Forrest (Jersey, United Kingdom) would secure the clean sweep with a 6-3 win as the pair was able to rebound after dropping a result to L-R last Saturday.
Singles competition saw the Eagles claim all six matches, including three of the six matches being played as an eight-game superset as the men's side of action did.
The lead grew to 2-0 for C-N as senior Ana Carla Resende (Minas Gerais, Brazil) stepped up and handled her own in the number one position. The Brazil native continued to mark her C-N legacy as she would win 6-2, 6-2 over MHU's Kadiri.
The Eagles would see Violetta Khisamova finish up next from number three singles. Unlike her efforts on Saturday against L-R, the sophomore was locked and loaded as she dropped two total games en route to a 6-1, 6-1 victory as the lead grew to 3-0 for C-N.
The match was clinched in number five singles by junior Natasha Forrest (Jersey, United Kingdom) for the second straight match. The United Kingdom native got off on the right track as she won 6-1 in the first set. The second set saw a little more fight from the Lions, but Forrest maintained control and pulled out the 6-3 decision and secured C-N their 10th straight victory of the spring.
From there, numbers two, four, and six singles all played an eight-game superset as the match was officially decided. First, Summer Reeves kept the win train rolling for the Orange and Blue as she rattled home a 8-5 victory, blowing the Eagles lead to 5-0. From there, graduate student Hannah Price kept the clean sheet with her 8-3 victory over MHU's Mackey. Finally, Anita Chornei closed the door on the Lions as she came out on top by a final of 8-2 at the number six position.
The Eagles are back at home for the first time in 10 days as they welcome in nationally ranked Wingate for a 10 a.m. first serve Saturday. The Eagles will be looking for their first series win as they have lost 13 straight matches against the Bulldogs, including last year's SAC semifinals.
"The key with Wingate is that they always have a deep lineup and are strong in every position, but so are we," Dabdab said. "Big matchup come Saturday morning but I think our girls will be ready as they have been all season."
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman women's tennis via cneagles.com and on all social media accounts.
