Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Western Carolina tennis team is back for a busy weekend of road action as they face the UNC Asheville Bulldogs and the Kennesaw State Owls. The Catamounts (5-6) will face the Bulldogs (6-3) in Asheville on Friday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m. before making the trek down to the peach state to battle the Owls (2-4) on Sunday, March 2.
WCU has a lengthy history with the Bulldogs, battling the mountain rival 46 times since their first meeting in 1978. The Catamounts trail the overall series 19-27, with their most recent road win over UNCA coming in a 5-2 decision in 2021.
The Catamounts and Owls have only met seven times on the clay, with WCU trailing in the series 2-5. Both Catamounts victories have come on the road as they hold a 2-1 advantage over the Owls in Kennesaw, including the most recent road match which was a 6-1 win in 2019.
Friday and Sunday's Matches
Western Carolina (5-6) at UNC Asheville (6-3) | Asheville, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.
Western Carolina (5-6) at Kennesaw State (2-4) | Kennesaw, Ga. | 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats (vs Kennessaw State): https://tinyurl.com/yj6cuc4t
Players to Watch:
Jade Groen and freshman Zoe Lui pulled off a pair of big singles wins their last time out against the Furman Paladins. Groen rallied from a 2-6 set one against top-seeded Sara Snyder to go 6-2, 6-4 in the final two sets for her sixth singles win of the season and her fifth on the top court. Lui rolled in her singles match on court six, posting 6-3, 6-2 sets to earn her third singles win of the season.
Chloe Schwarz will have her work cut out for her on the third court, as the Catamount carries a strong 4-1 singles record into the weekend's action. The Bulldogs however are undefeated on court three, with an 8-0 record through their eight matches this season.
UNC Asheville is led by a trio of Bulldogs in Julia Caffarena, Louise Booker, and Angelina Joy Hug as all three athletes have at least five singles wins on the year, with Caffarena holding a 6-2 record.
Kennesaw State was led in a strong 5-2 victory against Georgia State by top-seed Eva Baraniakova who rallied after a first set loss to take a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory. The sophomore battled with Jade Groen in the latter's sole top-court appearance last season, earning the win in a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8) match.
Up Next for the Catamounts:
The Catamounts have a brief break before heading to Orlando, Fla. for a spring break tournament as it battles FDU (March 10), Lamar (March 12), and Fairfield (March 13). They'll then return to home action to host NC A&T on March 21.
