MC Tennis takes loss of 7-2, and 9-0 in season opener against LaGrange
The Maryville College men’s and women’s tennis teams both started their spring seasons by traveling to face-off against LaGrange College in Georgia on Saturday, March 4. Both of the Scots teams fell in their season opener with the men getting defeated 7-2 and the women were defeated 9-0.
“It was definitely a tough match to open with,” said sophomore Charles (Boomer) Russell, “However, we plan to use this match as motivation to come back and play stronger against other teams.”
The men’s team began strong in the doubles, winning two of the three courts. MC’s Daniel Silva and Marcos Herrero defeated LC’s Mitchell Corley and Will Thompson 8-6. Silva and Herrero played an exciting match filled with challenges as Silva was injured after hustling to return a ball. The No. 1 player continued out his doubles match, staking a claim at the net to beat the Panthers.
At No. 2 doubles, Lance Shealy and John Mitchell Benton of LC defeated Mateus Coling Charles Russell of MC 8-2. Followed by a win from Trevor Perry and Wes Bloeme of MC who defeated Drew Cantrell and Thatcher Alu of LC 8-4.
All of the men were defeated in their singles play. No. 1 Silva retired three games into his set due to his injury received in the singles and was defeated 3-0 by Corley.
In No. 2 singles, Will Thompson of LC defeated Marcos Herrero of MC 3-6, 7-5 and 6-1. In No. 3 singles Lance Shealy of LC defeated. Charles Russell of MC 7-6, 7-4 and 6-0. In No. 4 singles, John Mitchell Benton of LC defeated Wes Bloeme of MC 6-0 and 6-1. In No. 5 singles Drew Cantrell of LC defeated Trevor Perry of MC 6-3 and 6-4. In No. 6 singles, Thatcher Alu of LC defeated Cole Stinson of MC 6-1 and 6-0.
The men’s team now moves on to 2-3 in the season and 0-1 in the conference.
The MC women’s team were also struck with a hard time against the Panthers. However, the match does not count towards the conference standing for the women, and they will face-off against LC again later in March to grab an advantage in the conference standing.
The Lady Scots took a hard hit early in doubles, losing all three courts. No. 1 doubles resulted in a Jenna Eppes and Elizabeth Knott of LC defeat of Savannah Bain and Carter Dickinson of MC 8-2. No. 2 doubles resulted in a Liz Minick and Denney Meigs of LC defeat of Tessa Wilcox and Katie Stephens of MC 8-1. Followed in a No. 3 doubles resulted in a Jia Lee and Carli Jones of LC defeat of McKennah Francis and Joyce Coling of MC 8-0.
The women’s singles results were as follows:
Singles:
- Jenna Eppes (LC) def. McKennah Francis (MC) 6-0, 6-1
- Elizabeth Knott (LC) def. Savannah Bain (MC) 6-0, 6-2
- Liz Minick (LC) def. Carter Dickinson (MC) 6-1, 6-0
- Jia Lee (LC) def. Tessa Wilcox (MC) 6-1, 6-0
- Denney Meigs (LC) def. Katie Stephens (MC) 6-1, 6-1
- Carli Jones (LC) def. Joyce Coling (MC) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
“It was a tough loss coming into the start of the beginning of my senior season,” said Wilcox, “But this is just motivation for us to work hard and beat them in the counting match on March 25.”
The loss moves the women to 0-5 in the season, but so far do not have standings for conference play. Both the men’s and women’s teams will travel to Montgomery, Ala. On March 11 to take on the Huntingdon College Hawks for USA South Conference play.