HARROGATE, Tenn.- Ana Carla Resende's hot start to the season helps Carson-Newman's women's tennis team have a successful outing in the Lincoln Memorial Invitational.
Ana Carla Resende outscores her opponents 24-13 in singles play at the number one position. Paired with Natasha Forrest, the duo completed a perfect 5-0 record at the invitational.
"Ana started hot from the jump," coach David Blank said. "She proved why she is one of the top players in the country and should be a top-four seed in the ITA for the third visit in a row."
At 10:30 A.M. Resende and Forrest kicked off doubles action for the Eagles against the Lee Flames with a 7-5 victory. The powerhouse duo finished the weekend with three wins and no losses at the number one position.
"Ana Carla and Tash are improving rapidly and will be a tough duo this spring," coach David Blank said.
Violetta Khisamova and Julia Speiser fell in the number two spot 6-2. Summer Reeves and Anita Chornei all dropped their match at the number three spot 6-4. The Eagles then moved on to singles action against the Flames.
Resende faced off against the number 55 player according to the ITA rankings. Ashleigh Simes got the best of Resende when they met last spring but was not as lucky on this go-around. Resende won in two sets of 6-3 and 6-4.
Reeves lost in the number two position in sets of 6-3 and 6-4. Kishamova could not compete in the number three position due to an injury. Chornei dropped lost in the number four spot in sets of 6-2 and 7-5.
"We got a lot of tough matches in," coach Blank said. "No matter who we threw in at what position, we seemed to excel and play at a high level."
Forrest put the Eagles back into the win column with a two-set victory. She won with sets of 6-3 and 6-2. Speiser followed suit with a 7-5 and 7-6 dub.
"The ladies played great as a unit. They did above and beyond what I had hoped for them to achieve," coach Blank said.
The Eagles moved on to play three singles matches against the Tusculum Pioneers to close out the inaugural invitational of the fall season.
Khisamova captured the only victory for the Eagles against the Pioneers. She won in sets of 6-4 and 7-5 in the number two position.
Reeves fell in the number one spot with sets of 7-5 and 6-2. Speiser fought hard in the number three spot but fell in sets of 7-6 and 7-5.
"Tomorrow the ladies will have a much-needed day off, then we will be ready to get after it Tuesday in preparation for the ITA the following week," coach Blank said.
The Eagles will fly to Sumter, S.C., to compete in the ITA Regionals starting Sept. 23rd.
