CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- The Western Carolina women's tennis team ends its initial nonconference slate Friday afternoon before getting its first taste of Southern Conference action on Sunday as the Catamounts host the Kennesaw State Owls Friday at 1 p.m. and head to Johnson City, Tenn., for the 2024 league opener at ETSU on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Friday's Matchup
Western Carolina (8-3) vs Kennesaw State (1-3)
Venue: Catamount Athletic Complex | Cullowhee, N.C.
You can follow along at: iOnCourt | Track Team Match
Sunday's Matchup
Western Carolina (8-3) at ETSU (4-4)
Venue: Dave Mullins Tennis Complex | Johnson City, Tenn.
Last Time Out
The Catamounts return to action for the first time since closing out a four-match road stretch with a 4-0 loss to the Boston University Terriers. The Catamounts went 2-2 in the road swing, earning wins at Queens and a program-record-setting eighth straight victory in a 5-2 decision at Gardner-Webb. WCU closed out the road stretch in Charlotte where it started, but were unable to come away with victories against the Charlotte 49ers or the previously mentioned Terriers. In their last home action, the Catamounts took a 5-2 victory over Young Harris with Angela Perez picking up the clinching point in the win.
Kennesaw State (1-3) comes to Cullowhee following a trip to Alabama which saw the Owls go 1-1 in the Yellowhammer State, picking up a hard-fought 4-3 win at Alabama State and most recently dropping a 5-2 match to the UAB Blazers. The Owls have yet to make an appearance in North Carolina this season, taking trips to Louisville and Georgia Southern. The match with Western Carolina is the first of three straight days of competition for the Owls as they take on UNC Asheville Saturday and the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Sunday.
The reigning SoCon champions hold a 4-4 record on the season so far, but the ETSU Bucs have pushed to a 4-1 record over their last five outings. The lone loss during that five-match stretch came on the road at then No. 19 Tennessee. While the road matchup will be the SoCon opener for the Catamounts, the home team has already earned its first victory in the conference slate as ETSU took a 7-0 road win over UNCG.
Players to Watch
Jade Groen remains a name to keep an eye on as the sophomore picked up an elusive set win against Boston U. Groen fought to a 7-6 victory in her only completed set of the day against the Terriers in the two spot. Both she and Andrea Redondo will look to get back in the win column as a doubles pairing against the Owls. Dasha Osadova made her doubles debut against Charlotte and stood paired with Madison Schwarz against both the 49ers and the Terriers. Isabella Sambola will have an opportunity to build upon her 4-0 home singles record when she takes the court against the Owls Friday afternoon.
Kennesaw State saw victories in the three and five spots against UAB thanks to the efforts of Sofia Madrid and Izabelle Persson. Madrid earned a straight-set victory in the three spot while Persson took the win in one of three singles battles to go the full three-set distance with the Blazers. Madrid picked up the clinching point in KSU's 4-3 road victory over Alabama State.
Two Buccaneers have won three straight singles matches dating back to the team's 7-0 sweep of UNCG. Daniela Rivera and Alessandra Caceres have 3-0 records in the three and five spots on the court in their last three outings, but the best overall record belongs to junior Alexandrova Ralita who has fought to a 5-2 singles record including wins at Clemson and at Virginia Tech.
Series History
The Catamounts and Owls have only shared the court six times in the past with Western Carolina having dropped four of the meetings. The Purple and Gold found both wins in Kennesaw and will look to claim its first home victory in the series. The first four matchups were 4-3 decisions with the most recent two being 6-1 matches in the favor of the road teams.
WCU and ETSU are familiar foes as the two have faced off 37 times since 1978. The 37 matchups with the Bucs are tied for the second-most matches against a single opponent with the Catamounts facing off with Chattanooga just as many times. The only opponent the Catamounts are more familiar with is Appalachian State as the two schools have fought for bragging rights 42 times. The Catamounts will look to claim their first win in the series since 2002.
For the latest information on Catamount women's tennis, follow @catamounts or @catamountTennis on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com. In-match updates are on the Catamount women's tennis official tennis Twitter page.
