Orlando, Fla. -- Western Carolina women's tennis capped off a successful 3-0 week in spring break play with a dominating 6-1 win over the Fairfield Stags on Thursday afternoon. The highlight of the day came on the top court in singles play, as
Jade Groen posted her 39th career solo victory over Fairfield's Victoria Mandma, setting the program record in career singles wins.
Groen's 10th victory of the season broke a tie with Jordan Strickland at 38 career solo wins. The junior from Zoetermeer, Netherlands set the program record in only 52 decisions and 63 match appearances. She's currently 39-13 in singles play in her career.
The Catamounts controlled play in their spring break finale from the start, rolling to a pair of shutout 6-0 wins in doubles play to take the point and a 1-0 advantage. The tandem of
Jade Groen and
Madison Schwarz earned their team-leading fifth win as a doubles pairing on the top court. At the same time, freshman
Hokualohi Lui made her collegiate doubles debut on the third court with
Angela Perez, as the duo took their match-up 6-0. Isabella Sambolla and
Andrea Redondo were in a tight 3-3 match on the second court when the Catamounts clinched the doubles point.
All six singles matches were decided in just two sets as WCU rattled off five straight-set victories to earn the 6-1 decision.
Jade Groen (6-1, 6-0),
Madison Schwarz (6-2, 6-2), and
Hokualohi Lui (6-1, 6-1) each recorded their victories with little drama, never allowing more than two points in any of their sets.
Andrea Redondo (6-0, 6-4) and
Angela Perez (6-0, 7-6 [7-4]) earned wins as well, with Redondo joining Groen as the only Catamounts to record a shutout set on the day. Perez claimed her eighth singles win of the season and her third consecutive win in exciting fashion, battling for a 7-6 (7-4) set two win over Lily Marinowski as the fourth seed. Perez's eight singles wins are the second most on the team this season, trailing only
Jade Groen's 10.
Up Next for the Catamounts:
WCU returns to Cullowhee to host the NC A&T Aggies on March 21, before hitting the final stretch with six consecutive Southern Conference matches, beginning on March 23 when they host the Samford Bulldogs. The Catamounts finish a four-match homestretch hosting the UNC Greensboro Spartans on March 29 and the Chattanooga Mocs on March 30.
