CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina women's tennis opened its fall season on Saturday with a strong showing at the WCU Invite at the Catamount Athletics Complex. WCU was joined by Gardner-Webb and Kennesaw State as each team played each other in singles and doubles.
 
The Catamounts began the day taking four of five singles matches against Gardner-Webb including straight-set wins for sophomore Isabella Sambola and classmate Jade Groen. In the singles match with Gardner-Webb, junior Angela Perez and sophomore Dasha Osadova each battled back from a set down to earn wins in their respective singles matches.
 
The action continued in singles play for WCU with a strong outing against Kennesaw State as Sambola along with sophomore Leilany Ipunesso and classmate Chloe Schwarz each won in straight sets against the Owls. Groen added a three-set win against KSU.
 
The day concluded with Western Carolina splitting four doubles matches against the Owls as the pairs of Perez and Osadova along with Sambola and Ipunesso each won their matchups.
 
The three teams conclude the two-day fall tournament on Sunday with an 8:45 a.m. start in doubles for WCU against Gardner-Webb. Kennesaw State and the Runnin' Bulldogs battle in singles at 9:45 a.m. before an 11:15 start for WCU and Kennesaw State. The finale on Sunday is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. featuring Western Carolina and Gardner-Webb.
 
For the latest information on Catamount women's tennis, follow @catamounts or @catamountTennis on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com. In-match updates can be found on the Catamount women's tennis official tennis Twitter page. 
 
SATURDAY, September 16
WCU 4, GWU 1 (Singles)

1. Isabella Sambola (WCU) def. Emilia Roslund (GWU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
2. Jade Groen (WCU) def. Palein (GWU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Angela Perez (WCU) def. Valeria Lloclla (GWU) 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Emma Shasteen (GWU) def. Leilany Ipunesso (WCU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Dasha Osadova (WCU) def. Katie Watts (GWU) 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)

WCU 4, Kennesaw State 2 (Singles)

1. Jade Groen (WCU) def. Ema Baraniakova (KSU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (14-12)
2. Isabella Sambola (WCU) def. Ivana Gresova (KSU) 6-3. 6-1
3. Laura Nadaska (KSU) def. Madison Schwarz (WCU) 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Leilany Ipunesso (WCU) def. Izabelle Persson (KSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Chloe Schwarz (WCU) def. Amulika Gottiparthy (KSU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Terezia Baraniakova (KSU) def. Andrea Redondo (WCU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)

Kennesaw State 2, WCU 2 (Doubles)

1. Ema Baraniakova/Ivana Gresova (KSU) def. Madison Schwarz/Chloe Schwarz (WCU) 6-4
2. Terezia Baraniakova/Izabelle Persson (KSU) def. Andrea Redondo/Jade Groen (WCU) 6-2
3. Angela Perez/Dasha Osadova (WCU) def. Laura Nadaska/ Amulika Gottiparthy (KSU) 6-2
4. Isabella Sambola/ Leilany Ipunesso (WCU) def. Amulika Gottiparthy/Terezia Baraniakova (KSU) 6-3