Asheville, N.C. -- The new look Western Carolina women's tennis team got its first true reps over the weekend, playing in the UNC Asheville-hosted Emily McNall Classic. Overall, the Catamounts posted a 7-5 singles record with one doubles win against the likes of UNC Asheville, Presbyterian, and Wofford.
Freshman Jenelle Roberts led the team in singles play, earning a 3-0 record in her matches against Wofford's Quinn Bernthal (6-4, 6-4), rallying against Presbyterian's McKenzie Davis (2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)), and UNC Asheville's Valeria Centeno (6-1, 6-2). Colorado State transfer Mariya Dobreva went 2-1 in her matches, earning wins against Presbyterian's Rocana Valdes in three sets (6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3)) and UNCA's Sofia Segui (6-1, 6-4).
The Catamounts opened the weekend fall tournament facing the Wofford Terriers, falling to the SoCon rival 4-1 in singles play, but splitting two doubles matches. The duo of Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda rolled to a 6-1 win over Ella Suk and Katie Godfree. Returner Hokualohi Lui and Jenelle Roberts nearly came away with a doubles victory as well against the Terriers, forcing a tiebreaker point but falling 7-6 (6-0) to Quinn Bernthal and Grace Agster.
WCU rallied in its afternoon match on Saturday, going undefeated against Presbyterian in singles play, despite four of the five matches going to tiebreaking third sets. Jennelle Roberts, Mia Miranda, and Axelle Van Beurden each rallied for second-set wins before taking their tiebreaker points for individual victories. Hokualohi Lui was the only Catamount to record a straight-set victory against Presbyterian, going 6-4, 6-3 against Grace Katsman.
Tournament play concluded Sunday morning, as the Catamounts took on UNC Asheville, going 2-1 in singles play. Dobreva and Roberts earned their wins in straight sets, while Lui fell to Avery Sager 6-3, 6-2.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
The WCU tennis team is back in fall action as they host the annual Western Carolina Fall Invitational Sept. 27-28, at the on-campus Catamount Athletics Complex. The team then splits on Oct. 3-5 as it heads to Clemson, S.C., for the Duckworth Fall Classic and Charlotte, N.C., for the 49er Invite.
Day One Singles:
WCU vs. Wofford
Chloe Elliott (Wofford) def. Mariya Dobreva (Western Carolina) 6-1, 6-0
Jenelle Roberts (WCU) def. Quinn Bernthal (Wofford) 6-4, 6-4
Ella Suk (Wofford) def. Hokualohi Lui (WCU) 4-6, 6-2, 10-4
Grace Agster (Wofford) def. Mia Miranda (WCU) 6-4, 7-6 (1-0)
Katie Godfree (Wofford) def. Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 6-0, 6-3
WCU vs. Presbyterian
Jenelle Roberts (WCU) def. McKenzie Davis (Presbyterian) 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
Mariya Dobreva (WCU) def. Roxana Valdes (Presbyterian) 6-2, 4-6, 10-3
Mia Miranda (WCU) def. Ladina Bruhin (Presbyterian) 3-6, 6-3, 10-8
Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) def. Mary Ellen Longmire (Presbyterian) 3-6, 7-5, 10-5
Zoe Lui (WCU) def. Grace Katzman (Presbyterian College) 6-4, 6-3
Day One Doubles:
WCU vs. Wofford
Mariya Dobreva/Mia Miranda (WCU) def. Ella Suk/Katie Godfree (Wofford) 6-1
Quinn Bernthal/Grace Agster (Wofford) def. Jenelle Roberts/Zoe Lui (WCU) 7-6 (6-0)
WCU vs. Presbyterian
R. Valdes/L. Bruhin (Presbyterian) def. Jenelle Roberts/Mariya Dobreva (WCU) 6-2
L. Parrilli/G. Katzman (Presbyterian) def. Axelle Van Beurden/Mia Miranda (WCU) 6-4
Day Two Singles:
Avery Sager (UNCA) def. Hokualohi Lui (WCU) 6-3, 6-2
Mariya Dobreva (WCU) def. Sofia Segui (Unattached) 6-1, 6-4
Jenelle Roberts (WCU) def. Valeria Centeno (UNCA) 6-1, 6-2
Day Two Doubles:
A. Sager/V. Centeno (UNCA) def. Mia Miranda/Hokualohi Lui (WCU) 6-4
S. Segui/L. Rensburg (UNCA) def. Axelle Van Beurden/Mariya Dobreva (WCU) 6-3
