Macon, Ga. - The Western Carolina women's tennis team completed a strong weekend of competition at the Mercer Gridiron Classic, highlighted by a Flight B doubles championship from Thalia Smith and Nathalie Marinovitch.
 
The Catamount tandem rolled through the Flight B doubles bracket, opening with a 6-3 victory over the team from Florida A&M before earning a 6-4 win over Kennesaw State's pair in the quarterfinals. The duo continued its run with a 6-2 semifinal victory over North Georgia before claiming the flight championship with a dominant 6-1 win over the pairing from Georgia State.
 
Mia Miranda and Mariya Dobreva likewise put together a strong run in Flight A doubles, advancing to the championship match. The Catamount duo opened with a 7-5 victory over Kennesaw State before posting a 6-2 quarterfinal win over the two from Middle Georgia State. Miranda and Dobreva then blanked SoCon foe Mercer, 6-0, in the semifinals before eventually falling to the Kennesaw State doubles, 6-2, in the championship match.
 
In singles competition, Dobreva and Smith both advanced to the semifinals of their respective flights. Dobreva earned a pair of three-set victories to reach the semifinal round, while Smith opened her tournament with a straight-set victory before advancing through the second round via injury withdrawal.
 
Freshman Laura Sparnina also made an impressive collegiate debut, opening her first tournament with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory, before falling in the second round in a three-set battle.
 
The Catamounts also saw Marinovitch, Kelly Coetzee and Chané Steyn compete in singles, while Coetzee and Sparnina teamed up in doubles during the weekend.
 
Western Carolina's strong showing in Macon continues the Catamounts' progress during the fall season, with the team gaining valuable experience across both singles and doubles play.
 
Up Next for The Catamounts:
The Catamounts head to Columbia, S.C. for the ITA Carolina Regionals, scheduled for Oct. 15-20, and then finish off the fall season at the Wofford Invite from Oct. 31- Nov. 1.