Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Western Carolina women's tennis team returns home after nearly a full month away as the Catamounts host instate foe North Carolina A&T to close out the nonconference portion of its 2024-25 schedule. The first serve with the Aggies is set for 3 p.m. with WCU seniors Andrea Redondo and Angela Perez set to be honored in a pregame ceremony beginning at 2:45 p.m.
The Catamounts (9-7, 0-1 SoCon) enter Friday's match on a three-game winning streak after securing wins over FDU (5-2), Lamar (4-0), and Fairfield (6-1) in a spring break trip to Orlando, Fla. NC A&T is in the midst of a busy week, battling Gardner-Webb (L, 7-0), NC Central, the Catamounts, Campbell, and Winston-Salem State on consecutive days.
WCU is 12-0 all-time against the Aggies in a series dating back to 1981. The closest match was a 5-2 decision favoring the Catamounts in Conway, S.C., in 2009 while the most recent battle between the two teams was a 6-1 road win for the Catamounts in 2018.
Friday's Tennis Matchup:
Western Carolina (9-7, 0-1 SoCon) vs NC A&T (---, 0-0 CAA)
3 p.m. | Catamount Athletic Complex | Cullowhee, N.C.
Players to Watch:
Catamount senior Angela Perez comes into Friday's matchup red-hot after posting an outstanding 6-0 week in Orlando. She won all three singles matchups last week in straight sets and ranks second on the team in solo victories with eight. Perez has won five of her last seven singles matches, bouncing between the fourth and fifth courts. She is also 8-8 in doubles play, most recently paired with freshman Hokualohi Lui in her doubles debut. The two rolled to a 6-0 shutout win over the Fairfield Stags on court No. 3.
Fellow Catamount senior Andrea Redondo also enjoyed an unblemished performance in Orlando, going 2-0 in her two decisions. She and doubles partner Isabella Sambola look to carry their momentum forward on Friday as the two earned a 6-2 win over FDU but went unfinished against both Lamar and Fairfield after the doubles point had been awarded.
Jade Groen is expected to continue leading the Catamounts on the top court as the junior holds a 10-2 record in singles play and a 19-7 record overall. She became WCU's career singles leader after earning her 39th victory against Fairfield, going for a 6-1, 6-0 win as the top seed. The product of the Netherlands has been victorious in her last seven decisions – and in nine of her last 10.
The Aggies have been shorthanded this season as only five student-athletes have competed on the singles courts this season. NC A&T has forfeited on court six in each of its matches this season, but the Aggies who have competed are all above .500, with freshman Flavia Villegas going 8-1 on court five. Fellow freshman Juana Gomez Weiss is second on the team in singles wins with a 6-3 record exclusively as the fourth seed. Dorsa Cheraghi, another freshman, carries a 4-3 record as the one seed for the Aggies.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Western Carolina is for its next three matches in conference play as the Catamounts host Samford (March 23 at Noon), UNCG (March 29 at 2 p.m.), and Chattanooga (March 30, 3 p.m.) as conference play begins in earnest. WCU then closes out the 2025 regular season at Mercer (April 5 at 11 a.m.), home against ETSU (April 8 at 2 p.m.), and at Wofford (April 12 at 2 p.m.).
