Asheville, N.C. – Despite dropping the doubles point to open the match, the Western Carolina women's tennis team won the day over mountain rival UNC Asheville, rallying on four singles courts to earn the 4-3 road victory on Saturday afternoon at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown.
The Catamounts are now 6-6 on the season and winners of two of their last three matches while the Bulldogs fall to 6-4.
The Catamounts opened in a 1-0 hole as the Bulldogs won on the top and third courts in doubles play. WCU's tandem of Jade Groen & Chloe Schwarz fell 6-2 to Angelina Joy Hug & Ari Siegel, while Madison Schwarz & Angela Perez dropped a 6-4 match to Valeria Centeno & Elizabeth Tindera. The duo of Isabella Sambola & Andrea Redondo were leading 5-3 when the point was decided, halting their match.
All three Catamounts who lost in the doubles round and competed in singles play earned critical victories in propelling WCU to the victory. Groen and Perez notched straight-set wins as the top and No. 4 seeds. Groen's 6-3, 6-1 win was her fourth consecutive winning decision, while Perez rolled a hard-fought 7-6 set one victory into a dominant 6-0 win, her second shutout set of the season.
Additionally, standout freshman Hokualohi Lui added to her win total as the Lynnwood, Wash., product is up to five singles wins. She rattled off her third-consecutive straight-set singles win on the sixth court with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over UNCA's Valeria Centeno.
Chloe Schwarz capped off the day for the Catamounts with a thrilling victory on the third court, spoiling UNCA's previously unblemished 9-0 record at the third seed. Schwarz had to fight back after falling 6-4 in the first set, but the junior picked up a 6-1 set two victory before outlasting Louise Booker 7-5 in the third to secure the Catamount win.
Up Next for the Catamounts:
WCU heads down to the Peach State to face the Kennesaw State Owls on Sunday, March 2 at 2 p.m. before enjoying a week off from competition. The Catamounts then take to the beach for spring break as they face FDU (March 10), Lamar (March 12), and Fairfield (March 13) in neutral court action in Orlando, Fla.
