Cullowhee, N.C. – Spurred by a powerful performance on the doubles courts with a pair of 6-0 and 6-1 wins, the Western Carolina women's tennis team defeated mountain rival UNC Asheville 4-2 on Friday afternoon at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex.

Despite Friday's match being plagued by lightning and rain delays, the Catamounts kept up the pressure following their doubles rout, with Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda sealing the victory following a win by Hokualohi Lui by withdrawal on the sixth court. The Catamounts were able to field a full doubles lineup and began play with all six courts filled, though Jenelle Roberts was forced to withdraw on the third court following the second weather delay of the day.

WCU (2-8) heads to Orlando for a pair of spring break matches vs Quinnipiac (March 12) and Penn (March 13). UNC Asheville (6-4) will also compete in a pair of spring break matches in Orlando, battling St. Thomas (March 9) and Navy (March 10).

How it Happened:

The Catamounts rolled on the doubles courts, with Hokualohi Lui and Kelly Coetzee pairing for a strong 6-0 win over Valeria Centeno and Isabella Moss. Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda secured the early point not long after, rolling to a 6-1 top-court victory over Angelina Hug and Sofia Segui.  

Jenelle Roberts and Axelle Van Beurden held a 4-3 lead on the back court over Avery Sager and Maria Sol Alvarez before play concluded with the Catamounts securing the doubles victory.

Lui gave the Catamounts an early 2-0 lead in the match due to a withdrawal on the sixth court by the Bulldogs. However, with rain and lightning delaying the match, Roberts was forced to withdraw on the third court, with the Bulldogs making it a 2-1 affair.

Dobreva recorded the first full singles match of the day on the top court, downing Angelina Hug 6-2, 6-4 in straight sets. The win is Dobreva's seventh singles victory of the season and her fifth in straight sets. Hug entered the match as the reigning Big South Women's Tennis Player of the Week with a 6-2 record on the top court record, and only one straight set loss on the season (vs. App State, Savannah Dada Mascoll; 6-4, 6-2).

WCU's Van Beurden mounted a furious rally in the second set on the fourth court against Maria Alvarez, but the freshman fell 6-1, 6-4 as the Bulldogs again pulled within point. Mia Miranda secured the victory for the Catamounts, though, with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over Isabella Moss on the second court. Miranda's victory is her third of the season as the second seed and her second in straight sets.  

After falling 6-2 in her opening set on the fifth court, Coetzee was in the process of rallying to a singles victory. The freshman had recorded a 6-1 second-set win to even her singles match with Valeria Centeno before Miranda clinched the match.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

The Catamounts head to the Sunshine State for spring break as they take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats on March 12 and the Penn Quakers on March 13 in Orlando, Fla. WCU returns home to host Marshall on March 18 before returning to SoCon play on March 19,  hosting the Furman Paladins in a rescheduled contest.