ETSU 5, Appalachian State 2
BOONE, N.C. - ETSU opened its season Saturday afternoon with a 5-2 victory versus Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. The Bucs' non-conference win marks the eighth consecutive time ETSU has defeated App State.
The Mountaineers (0-2) began the day by taking the doubles point, earning wins at the No. 3 and No. 2 doubles spots, respectively.
ETSU responded, however, by winning five of the six singles matches, including four straight-set resutls.
Finding the win column in singles play for the Bucs (1-0) were Lyn Yee Choo, Reginka Nychytailova, Ana Gerbasi, Ionna Markesini, and Jessica Brumit, respectively.
ETSU will continue non-conference play as the Bucs host Radford Sunday, Jan. 25 at 9:00 a.m., in Bristol, Tenn., at the Bristol Racquet & Fitness Club.
Chattanooga 7, Kennesaw State 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s tennis team moved to 2-0 on the year with its second shutout in as many outings. This time the Mocs blanked visiting Kennesaw State at the McCallie School.
“It was a fun match tonight,” stated head coach Jeff Clark. “We had a great crowd out here and I thought our team brought a lot of energy.”
UTC won all 10 matches, beginning with three doubles victories. Senior Claire Mulyadi and junior Kelsey Coots led the doubles with a 6-1 win at No. 2. Senior Kaylene Chadwell and sophomore Rachele Gazzola clinched the point at No. 3 while junior Kayla Jones and freshman Samantha Caswell won at No. 1.
“I thought that in doubles, we got off to a good start on all courts,” said Clark. “That helps because you’re only playing to six, so if you can start fast, that’s to your advantage.”
Junior Alison Storie was first off in singles at No. 6. Caswell followed at No. 4 and Coots clinched the win at No.3. Jones won a three-setter at No. 1 and Chadwell ended the evening with a win at No. 2.
“They only get tougher from here so we’ll enjoy it for tonight and then we get ready for Eastern Kentucky who is a very good team on their court,” stated Clark. We have got to keep working hard.”
Memphis 4, Furman 2
DURHAM, N.C. – Memphis downed Furman, 4-2, Saturday morning in the opening match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center in Durham, N.C.
The Paladins won two out of three doubles matches to clinch the opening point. Freshman Harper Caswell teamed with sophomore Blair Martin to down Liza Tymchenko and Marta Morga, 6-3, at flight two, then sophomore Karlee Bryde and rookie Joan van Lochem held on for a 7-6 decision versus Kathry Hughes and Tara McElroy in the flight three match-up. The Tigers’ Anki Wind and Alyssa Hibberd topped senior Alex Moreno-Kaste and sophomore Ansley Speaks, 6-4, in the top-seeded match.
Memphis tie the match at 1-all after Hughes posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Caswell at flight five then took a 2-1 lead following a 6-0, 7-5 Hibberd victory versus Bryde at number four. Furman tied the match at 2-2 when Moreno-Kaste beat Tymchenko, 6-2, 6-2, at flight three, but the Tigers clinched the team victory after notching three-set wins at number six and number one. McElroy came from behind to defeat van Lochem, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, at flight six, then Wind held on to record a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 win over Speaks in the top match.
The flight three match was unfinished. Morga won set one, 6-3, then Martin was victorious in the second set, 7-6. Morga led the third set, 1-0, when the match was called.
Georgia 4, Samford 1
ATHENS, Ga. - The Samford University women’s tennis team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at the No. 10-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, but the home-court advantage proved to be too strong for UGA as the Bulldogs rallied in singles play for a 4-1 victory in the prestigious ITA Kick-Off Weekend being held at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility.
Earlier on Saturday, the 28th-ranked Auburn Tigers defeated the No. 62 Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 4-0, in the opening match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
On Sunday at 8 a.m. (CST), Samford will square off against Wake Forest in the consolation match of the four-team, ITA Kick-Off Weekend being held at the University of Georgia.
The ITA Kick-Off Weekend events were created in 2009 as qualifiers for the ITA Division I National Team Indoor Championships. Sixty schools compete for the remaining 15 spots in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, with a reserved spot for the host institution.
After ITA Kick-Off Weekend host sites were named, a draft was held with schools selecting which site to play at in order of year-end ITA Team Rankings.
Samford (0-1) stunned 10th-ranked Georgia (1-1) in doubles play Saturday and garnered an early 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
En route to its doubles-point victory, Samford’s No. 2 combination of Yasmeen Ebada and Jessica Northcutt cruised to a 6-2 triumph over Georgia’s duo of Caroline Brinson and Hannah King.
Mere minutes later, the Bulldogs secured the doubles point with a thrilling 6-4 victory from Savannah Wood and Iva Parapunova over Georgia’s tandem comprised of Mariana Gould and Laura Patterson on court No. 3. The point marked the first time in school history that Samford held a lead over a top-10 ranked opponent.
In singles play, Georgia bounced back with a vengeance and quickly earned a 3-1 lead in the match with consecutive straight-set victories on courts No. 3, No. 4 and No. 2.
The clinching win Saturday occurred in the No. 1 singles contest as No. 19 Lauren Herring held off Samford’s Stephanie N’tcha, 7-5, 6-3, as Georgia claimed the 4-1 victory.
The matchups held on courts No. 5 and No. 6 were both unfinished at the conclusion of the match.