Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina women's tennis swings down to Georgia this weekend for the Mercer Gridiron Classic. Play in Macon, Ga. is slated to begin on Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. at the Randy Stephens Tennis Center.
The Catamounts were originally scheduled to compete at the Socon Fall Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. this weekend but due to inclement weather decided to play at this weekends tournament in Macon.
This Weekend's Tournament: Mercer Gridiron Classic in Macon, Ga.
Teams (16): Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Emory, ETSU, Flagler, Florida A&M, Florida Southern, Furman, Georgia College and State, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State, Mercer, Middle Georgia State, North Georgia, South Alabama, Troy, Western Carolina
Results Link: https://tinyurl.com/hh7kza2s
The Catamounts are one of 16 teams competing in the two-day tournament, against fellow Socon teams ETSU, Furman, and Mercer.
WCU enters the weekend following competition at the Charleston Southern Invitational. The Catamounts collected six singles and two doubles victories across the three matchups, including singles wins from Mariya Dobreva, Mia Miranda, Thalia Smith, Kelly Coetzee and Steyn.
Players to Watch:
For the first time this fall, the Catamounts will have their full roster competing in Macon. The full lineup will compete in both singles and double with the exception of Chanè Steyn and Mia Miranda who will compete in singles and doubles exclusively.
Miranda enters the weekend after posting singles victories against Charleston Southern and East Carolina. She also paired with Coetzee to earn a 6-3 doubles victory against Charleston Southern.
Dobreva also enters the tournament after picking up a three-set singles victory over Charleston Southern, battling back for a 2-6, 7-5, 10-8 win. Smith earned a singles win against Charleston Southern and split a pair of matches against East Carolina, while Coetzee and Steyn also picked up singles victories against the Buccaneers and Pirates.
Freshman Laura Sparnina will make her season debut at the Mercer Gridiron Classic. The weekend marks the first competition of the season for the first-year Catamount as she joins the rest of the WCU roster in Macon.
Singles:
Dobreva vs. Tsitavets (Mercer)
Smith vs. Ivankovic (Kennesaw State)
Marinovitch vs. Thomas (Florida A&M)
Coetzee vs. Bernardi (Georgia State)
Steyn vs. Livson (Emory)
Sparnina vs. Garrett (Georgia College and State)
Doubles:
MIranda/Dobreva vs. Baraniakova/Zingorova (Kennesaw State)
Coetzee/Sparnina vs. Jennewein/Scheuermann (Florida College)
Marinovitch/Smith vs. Pierce/Gabrielle (Florida A&M)
Up Next for The Catamounts:
The Catamounts will head to Columbia, S.C. for the ITA Carolina Regionals from Oct 15-20, and then finish off the fall season at the Wofford Invite from Oct. 31- Nov. 1.
