Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's tennis hits the road again Saturday afternoon as the Catamounts visit former conference rival Davidson on their home courts. WCU picked up its first spring win with a strong showing against Young Harris, while the Wildcats are officially 0-0 but faced Lenoir Rhyne last Sunday afternoon in an exhibition match.
WCU and Davidson have faced off 32 times overall – the bulk coming when the two shared conference affiliation – and three meetings coming over the last four seasons since the series took a brief hiatus in 2015. WCU trails in the all-time series, 7-25. However, for the first time since 1978, the Catamounts are on a two-match run against the former Southern Conference opponent, picking up a 6-1 win at home last season and a 4-3 victory in the previous meeting in Davidson.
Saturday's Match:
Western Carolina (1-0) at Davidson (0-0)
Feb. 1, 2025 | 2 p.m. | Davidson Tennis Courts | Davidson, N.C.
Players to Watch:
The Catamounts were perfect in their 7-0 win over Young Harris, earning victories on all three doubles courts to claim the first point, and then straight-set wins in all six singles matches. Isabella Sambola and Jade Groen cruised in their singles matches with neither allowing more than two points to their opponent in any set.
Last season's matchup in Cullowhee saw the Catamounts rip off five, straight-set victories in singles play to close the match. Madison Schwarz and Angela Perez are 2-0 in their careers on the singles courts against the Wildcats with wins in last year's matchup and the 4-3 Catamount win in 2023.
As for doubles play, the Catamounts have fielded five different doubles teams through their first three matches this season. The pairings of Jade Groen and Madison Schwarz, Isabella Sambola and Angela Perez, as well as Andrea Redondo and Chloe Schwarz all picked up wins against Young Harris and are 1-1 on the season.
The Wildcats return their top two 2024 singles starters in Bryson Langford and Kavya Patel. The duo compiled 12 wins, primarily playing on the fifth and fourth courts, respectively. Just behind the two in terms of record is Daniela Porges who racked up 11 victories last season, six of which came on the third court.
Patel and Porges were also Davidson's most prolific doubles pairing last season, going 10-3 and playing exclusively on the top court.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU returns home for three straight matches as they host Tusculum (Feb. 3), App State (Feb. 8), and Presbyterian (Feb. 9) on campus at the Catamount Athletics Complex. The Catamounts then hit the road again for a doubleheader on Feb. 15 against Wake Forest in a neutral site matchup before battling South Carolina, both scheduled for Columbia, S.C.
