JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Women's Tennis heads into the week with a perfect conference record taking on two conference foes and a never-before-seen non-conference opponent.
Carson-Newman (5-2, 3-0 South Atlantic Conference) begins the week with the first-ever meeting against Purdue Northwest (4-9, 1-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) who entered the week on a two-match winning streak heading into a Monday clash at Tusculum.
The Eagles clash with the Pride at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 18 at the Charles A. "Buddy" Catlett Tennis Complex.
C-N resumes its conference slate, at home, the next day against Tusculum (1-8, 0-4 SAC), which finally overcame its season-opener eight-match losing streak with a sweep of visiting Purdue Northwest. Before the win, the Pioneers had not gathered more than two team points in a match to start the season.
Carson-Newman faces its toughest challenge of the season on Saturday, March 22 as No. 46 Coker (9-2, 5-1 SAC) comes to Jefferson City for an 11 a.m. first serve time. The Cobras will have matches against No. 48 Augusta and Emory & Henry prior to making the trip to the Catlett Tennis Complex.
Purdue Northwest – The Pride don't have a true "standout" player, and allowed a point to the Pioneers by default not playing anyone in the No. 6 flight. Alma Vazquez Rioja leads the team in singles winning percentage at .750 with a 3-1 mark on the season. Romance Debrielle leads the team in singles wins sitting at 4-2 in dual meets.
The top doubles flight for PNW features Salma Raslan and Vazquez Rioja, who are 2-2 in dual meets this season as doubles are not the Pride's strong suit.
Tusculum – The Pios have been licking their wounds before the sweep of Purdue Northwest. The Pioneers have looked to Elodie Baechler who is 3-3 in dual meets, with no other individual having a singles record over .500.
In doubles, Tusculum has been able to get consistent success from the pairing of Baechler and Ylva Frafjord Landa who have gone 6-4 with no other doubles pairing better than 2-8 in the spring season.
No. 46 Coker – The Cobras have impressed by putting a number next to their name in the latest ITA team poll, but it is expected to change before the match with C-N after the ITA releases the new poll on Mar. 19. The No. 5 and No. 6 singles flights have found excellent success for Coker made up of Tamara Macias and Caroline Myers, respectively.
In doubles, it is again the late flights that excel with the No. 3 doubles pairing of Myers and Salome Sierra winning a majority of their flights for Coker.
All matches this week will begin at 11 a.m. at the Charles A. "Buddy" Catlett Tennis Complex where, as always, admission is free.
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