Cullowhee, N.C. -- Western Carolina women's tennis looks to keep rolling in Southern Conference play this weekend as the Catamounts host league foes UNC Greensboro and Chattanooga Mocs on back-to-back days. The first serve with the Spartans is set for Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. with play against Chattanooga scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.
Western Carolina (11-7, 1-1 SoCon) enters the weekend as winners of their last five matches, including a 6-1 decision against Samford the previous time out. The Catamounts are one of three teams in the conference to hit double-digit wins already with the Furman Paladins and the Wofford Terriers leading the SoCon with 12 wins. UNCG (3-11, 0-3 SoCon) has rallied recently after dropping its first six contests of the year, though the Spartans are currently on a two-match losing skid. UNCG faces Chattanooga (8-7, 0-2 SoCon) on Friday (March 28) in Chattanooga as the Mocs look to rebound following a 0-2 showing in conference play last weekend, falling 4-3 to Mercer and 7-0 to Wofford.
The Catamounts trail in the overall series with this weekend's opponents – but have had success against both teams in recent years. WCU has won two of the last three against UNCG (4-3 Home win in 2023 | 5-2 Road win in 2022) and took down Chattanooga on the road for the first time in program history last season (4-3 in 2024).
Saturday and Sunday's Women's Tennis Matches:
Western Carolina (11-7, 1-1 SoCon) vs UNC Greensboro (3-11, 0-2 SoCon)
March 29 | 2 p.m. | Catamount Athletic Complex | Cullowhee. N.C.
Live Results (IonCourt): https://tinyurl.com/5n8c32d8
Western Carolina (11-7, 1-1 SoCon) vs Chattanooga (8-7, 0-2 SoCon)
March 30 | 3 p.m. | Catamount Athletic Complex | Cullowhee, N.C.
Live Results (IonCourt): https://tinyurl.com/2p9u3azd
Players to Watch:
Five Catamounts have winning records in singles play with Jade Groen and Angela Perez leading the team in total wins with 11 and 10, respectively. Chloe Schwarz has a team-high winning percentage, coming into the weekend's matches with an 8-1 record entirely on the third court. Groen and freshman Hokualohi Lui are the only Catamounts undefeated in conference play, going 2-0 in their singles matches against Furman and Samford.
Only one Spartan has a winning record in singles play. Alexandra Dodashev carries a 7-6 mark but dropped her most recent bout with Samford's Eleni Liakonis in three sets. The Spanish senior had won five of her last six decisions before her 6-1, 5-7, 4-6 loss. Sophomore Lauren Thomas is at .500 on the year, going 6-6, with wins in her last three appearances.
Chattanooga is led by Savannah Presson, Emma Pedretti, and Zara Burns who all have nine singles wins this season. The trio have split time across multiple courts, but have mostly settled on courts four, three, and five respectively. Rozalie Dohnalova has been the top-seeded Moc all season long, going 6-6 on court one.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Following the pair of home SoCon matches, the Catamounts are back in action on April 5, as they head to Georgia to take on the Mercer Bears in an 11 a.m. start in Macon. WCU then returns home to host the ETSU Buccaneers on April 8 at 2 p.m. before closing the regular season in South Carolina against the Wofford Terriers on April 12.
