Doubles point loss leads to 4-3 decision for C-N Women’s Tennis against Wise
Competitive matches end up tilting in the direction of UVA Wise’s favor in singles to drop C-N to 0-3 in conference play
VIDEO: Nate Gangelhoff Post Match
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Competitive matches end up tilting in the direction of UVA Wise's favor in singles to drop C-N to 0-3 in conference play
Before this, Carson-Newman had won the last seven straight matches against Wise, and had never lost in the history of the program. This also continues a five-match losing streak for the women.
The doubles point was incredibly tight, but the Cavaliers stood their ground. Leah McBride and Mar Fraile were the highlight of the doubles showing for C-N, coming away with a 6-3 victory. Otherwise, Hala Awad and Kerrigan Spiers fell 6-3 at third doubles and Maria del Mar Sarda Marti fell at first doubles 6-4.
"We had opportunities. We had moments where we could have gotten the doubles point and we just couldn't close when it mattered," said head coach Nate Gangelhoff. "This was a match where I was very confident in our girls and winning. UVA wise showed up and again, they put it in when it mattered most and we didn't."
I give them a lot of credit. (1:41) Give them a lot of credit of just being able to fight and stick with it.
Leah McBride continued her momentum from doubles and was more motivated than ever to get a win. It showed in her score as she took down Lucy Cunliffe at fifth singles in straight games and sets to tie the score at 1-1. This was McBride's first singles win of the season.
"This was a really good match for Leah. I think this is kind of full circle where she's finally getting her feet underneath herself and being able to put more balls in play and feel more like herself," said Gangelhoff.
Hala Awad also did not disappoint in singles, delivering a 7-5, 6-2 win at the first singles line. Her victory makes her 4-1 on the year. Mar Sarda Marti was not far behind her with a three-set comeback with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Mar Sarda Marti is now 3-3 on the year in singles.
Kerrigan Spiers kept things close at third singles, even battling back from a 5-2 deficit in the third set to make it 5-4, but she went down 2-6, 6-2, 5-7.
Kira Baacke also lost a heartbreaker at fourth singles with 6-2, 0-6, 4-6 set scores. At the end of the lineup, Mar Fraile dropped 3-6, 5-7.
With this loss, C-N moves to 3-6 on the season and is still searching for their first SAC win. The women have a four-day break before they travel to Rome, GA, to face Nebraska-Kearney at 3:00 PM. The next opportunity they will have for a conference win in March 18th against Tusculum in Greenville.
