Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina tennis team closed its nonconference schedule impressively on Friday as the Catamounts claimed a 6-1 win over the NC A&T Aggies at the Catamount Athletic Complex. WCU seniors Andrea Redondo and Angela Perez were honored for their contributions in a special pregame ceremony. The duo led the team with a doubles win on court two and a pair of singles victories in Friday's win.

The shorthanded Aggies were forced to forfeit on the third doubles court and the sixth singles seed, giving the Catamounts an early advantage in the match. Redondo and Perez cruised to a 6-1 second-court victory to secure the doubles point before Jade Groen and Chloe Schwarz swept the initial point with a 6-4 victory.  

Redondo and Madison Schwarz rattled off straight-set victories with little drama, outscoring their opposition a combined 24-8. Redondo allowed only three points total in her match as the fifth seed, while Schwarz earned her highest-seeded victory since a 6-2, 6-1 win against Lees McRae on the second court in 2023.  

Isabella Sambola and Perez pushed to a third set in their matches on the top and third courts, respectively, as the two fell 6-0 and 7-5 to open singles play. With the match already decided in WCU's favor, the two battled their opponents in 10-point tiebreakers. Perez rolled in her match tiebreaker, claiming a 10-3 advantage to finish off the day and notch her ninth win of the season. Trailing 7-1, Sambola mounted a furious comeback, claiming 11 of the final 14 points to earn the 12-10 victory.  

Up Next for The Catamounts: 

WCU returns to Southern Conference play as the Catamounts host Samford on March 23 at Noon. The Catamounts remain at home for their next two, hosting the UNC Greensboro Spartans on March 29 at 2 p.m. and the Chattanooga Mocs the following day at 3 p.m.