The women’s tennis team locked in another shutout on the season against the Western Carolina Catamounts on March 18 at home.
With this 7-0 win, the Bucs advanced to 3-0 in conference play and 14-1 overall.
Singles wins came from Lyn Yee Choo (Kuching, Malaysia), Regina Nychytailova (Maripol, Ukraine), Ioanna Markesini (Athens, Greece), Marina Espana (Castellar Del Valles, Spain), Melissa Esguerra (Derrimutt, Austrailia) and Ana Gerbasi (Caracas, Venezuela).
Despite the No. 1 slot loss in the doubles competition by Choo and Gerbasi, the Bucs won all six singles matches, notable among them freshman, Espana. Following this win against Western Carolina, Espana has now won all 13 matches she has competed in, which is the most wins in the Southern Conference.
“It was not an easy match, but I played really good,” Espana said. “I did not have many problems with the victory.”
Espana and doubles partner, sophomore Markesini, also had a 6-3 doubles win against the Catamounts. They now have 11 wins together — the most on the team — even though this is the first season they have played together. As a freshman, Espana has proved herself as a top competitor.
“Before I came here, I knew my responsibility, and I worked so hard during last summer,” Espana said.
Coach Travis Sandlant recognizes that last year the team was fairly young, but this year having three seniors to guide and help the freshmen and sophomores has made a difference on the team.
“It gives confidence to someone like Marina, who has matured to mix in with them [seniors] and play above a freshman level,” Sandlant said.
The Bucs will be on the road for the next two games. The first of the two will be against the Chattanooga Mocs on Friday.
Sandlant said the team has been working on doubles and match play in practice in order to be ready for the Mocs and get the win.
“Chattanooga is a team of fighters with a ‘never-give-up’ attitude, so we have to know the match isn’t over until its over,” Sandlant said.
