Spartanburg, S.C. -- The Western Carolina women's tennis team wrapped up play at the Big Southern Shootout on Sunday afternoon, finishing 9-5 between the doubles and singles courts combined during the final two days of competition among teams from the Big South and the Southern Conference.
The Catamounts were joined by Wofford, Chattanooga, and honorary SoCon member for the tournament, Campbell. The quartet of SoCon representatives earned a 57-28 win over a Big South trio consisting of Longwood, Radford, and Gardner-Webb. WCU earned 14 of the SoCon's 57 points during the tournament.
After posting a 4-1 record in singles play on Friday against the Highlanders, the Catamount doubles pairings weren't quite able to find their groove against the Big South foe on Saturday. Jade Groen and Madison Schwarz nearly came away with a victory in their matchup, but fell 7-6 (6) in the tiebreaker, while Isabella Sambola and Andrea Redondo also dropped their doubles battle.
The Purple and Gold quarter was able to bounce back in singles play against Longwood later on Saturday, as all four doubles participants came away with straight-set singles victories over the Lancers in their respective matchups. Sambola took a and Schwartz both took tiebreaker wins in their singles matches as the Catamounts ended the day with a 4-3 record on both courts.
Sunday saw the Catamounts roll to an undefeated doubles record over Longwood, with Groen and Schwarz posting a 6-1 win in their matchup with Sambola and Redondo coasting to a 6-2 victory in theirs.
For the second tournament in a row, the Catamounts faced the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, edging out the Big South foe 3-2 in their five singles matches in the rematch to close out the Big Southern Shootout. Jade Groen earned a 6-3, 6-2 straight-set win on the top court while Andrea Redondo, Madison Schwarz, Isabella Sambola, and Dasha Osadova all went to tiebreakers. Redondo and Schwarz took the win in their matchups, but Sambola and Osadova were unable to complete their respective comeback bids.
Up next, the Catamounts have the ITA Division I Regionals on deck. The Regionals are scheduled to run through October 17-22 and will be held in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Catamount Results:
FRIDAY SINGLES
Jade Groen (WCU) def. Julia Abrams (RAD) 6-4, 6-0
Michaela Stephens (RAD) def. Isabella Sambola (WCU) 7-5, 1-6, 11-9
Madison Schwartz (WCU) def. Lexi Smolder (RAD) 6-4, 6-2
Andrea Redondo (WCU) def. Rachel Ekanem (RAD) 6-2, 6-1
Dasha Osadova (WCU) def. Brooke Murphy (RAD) 4-6, 6-3, 10-6
FRIDAY DOUBLES
Emilia Roslund/Arili Boshoff (GWU) def. Jade Groen/Madison Schwartz (WCU) 6-4
Isabella Samhola/Andrea Redondo (WCU) def. Emma Shasteen/Milica Prokic (GWU) 6-4
SATURDAY DOUBLES
Julia Abrams/Lexi Smolder (RAD) def. Jade Groen/Madison Schwarz (WCU) 7-6 (6)
Michale Stephens/Brooke Murphy (RAD) def. Isabella Sambola/Andrea Redondo (WCU) 6-1
SATURDAY SINGLES
Lexi Smolder (RAD) def. Dasha Osadova (WCU) 6-2, 6-1
Jade Groen (WCU) def. Karina Rizvanova (LONG) 6-2, 6-3
Isabella Sambola (WCU) def. Oriana Izarra (LONG) 7-5, 6-3
Madison Schwartz (WCU) def. Alexandra Magia (LONG) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Andrea Redondo (WCU) def. Alexia Broderick (LONG) 6-3, 6-0
SUNDAY DOUBLES
Jade Groen/Madison Schwartz (WCU) def. Karina Rizvanova/Alexandra Magia (LONG) 6-1
Isabella Sambola/Andrea Redondo (WCU) def. Feline van Eijkelenburg/Oriana Izarra (LONG) 6-3
SUNDAY SINGLES
Jade Groen (WCU) def. Emma Shasteen (GWU) 6-3, 6-2
Alizee Poulin (GWU) def. Isabella Sambola (WCU) 6-3, 4-6, 10-3
Madison Schwartz (WCU) def. Milica Prokic (GWU) 4-6, 6-3, 10-5
Andrea Redondo (WCU) def. Natalie Crawford (GWU) 6-2, 5-7, 10-6
Arili Boshoff (GWU) def. Dasha Osadova (WCU) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 10-5
