Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's tennis returns home on Saturday as they host the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs on the courts at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex. The match is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
The Catamounts (4-5) come into the matchup after battling Wake Forest and South Carolina in a road doubleheader last Saturday, while the Runnin' Bulldogs (2-2) most recently fell 6-1 to the ETSU Buccaneers.
WCU trails the overall series 9-12 but has made inroads in the series' history in recent years. The Catamounts are on a three-match winning streak over Gardner-Webb dating back to 2022 and a 6-1 win in Boiling Springs. The two teams met last season with the Catamounts claiming a 5-2 victory on the road, marking a WCU program-record eighth consecutive win.
Saturday's Tennis Match:
Western Carolina (4-5) vs Gardner-Webb (2-2)
Catamount Athletics Complex – Cullowhee, N.C. – 2 p.m.
Live stats: https://tinyurl.com/53bptzfn
Players to Watch:
The Catamounts had a pair of tough results against Wake Forest and South Carolina one week ago but were led in a valiant effort by Jade Groen, Chloe Schwarz, and Isabella Sambola who each battled against Power Four and Top-100 singles competition. The three Catamounts have combined for nine wins so far this season, with Groen picking up four wins on the top court and Schwarz being the only remaining undefeated Catamount thanks to a 3-0 record on the third court.
In last season's 5-2 win over Gardner-Webb, WCU swept the doubles point before rattling off four straight-set singles wins to secure the victory. Angela Perez and Dasha Osadova picked up wins on courts four and six while Sambola and Groen won on courts one and two respectively.
Gardner-Webb was led in their loss to ETSU by Alizee Poulin on court No. 2. Poulin stole a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Jana Rovira for GWU's only point of the day. Poulin also claimed one of Gardner-Webb's points against the Catamounts last season as she took her first set against Chloe Schwarz 7-5 before the match was decided to do player retirement.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU opens Southern Conference play on Tuesday afternoon as it travels to Greenville, S.C. to battle the Furman Paladins. The Catamounts then return to the nonconference slate by visiting mountain-rival UNC Asheville in Asheville on Feb. 28.
