Story by Sarah Combs, Staff writer
Senior from Mississauga, Ontario, Megan Blue hits the ball during the Racers’ match Easter weekend.
The women’s tennis team added a loss against UT Martin last weekend but responded with a sweep against Southeastern Missouri State 7-0.
After struggling throughout the year with second day matches, the Racers were able clutch the doubles point against SEMO. Head Coach Jorge Caetano said the most important thing the Racers took from the weekend was maintaining high energy from the first match of the weekend and converting that to the second match.
“We were struggling to keeping on keeping the good energy one day and dropping it the second,” Caetano said. “This weekend they kept it at all times.”
UT MARTIN
The Racers fell to the Skyhawks 6-1.
UT Martin claimed the doubles point early, establishing their momentum going into singles.
Junior from Hamburg, Germany, Alina Schibol and freshman from Dinard, France, Jeanne Masson set a competitive pace for the Racers, winning their match 6-3. Senior from Memphis, Tennessee, Erin Patton and freshman from Anthem, Arizona, Haily Morgan followed but couldn’t hold the momentum, falling 6-4. Senior from Mississauga, Ontario, Megan Blue and freshman from Esbjerg, Denmark, Amina Hadzic concluded doubles falling 7-5.
Although the Racers struggled throughout the day, they never stopped competing.
“The other teams know that even if they beat us, they better come prepared.” Caetano said. “If they don’t play their best tennis, then we are gonna come and beat them.”
Morgan was the only Racer to win her singles match. Morgan lost her first match 0-6 but responded with a 6-3 and 10-8 to clinch the win. Patton played a tough match against her opponents losing her first match 6-2, winning the second 6-1 but falling short the third set 10-3. Schibol opened her match with a 7-5 win but lost momentum and finished 6-4, 11-9.
SEMO
The Racers traveled to Girardeau, Missouri and posted a 7-0 sweep over the Redhawks.
Partners Blue and Hadzic won their doubles match, followed by partners Patton and Morgan, who both won their matches 6-1. Schibol and Masson concluded the doubles with a forfeit, giving the Racers an early 1-0 doubles point.
The Racers carried the momentum into singles where Blue led the way with a 7-6, 6-2 victory in her match. Hadzic followed suit pulling out a late rally 6-4 in her first match and finishing with 6-0. Morgan delivered a 6-0, 6-2 win, Patton logged 6-1, 6-4 win and Schibol contributed 6-2, 6-2 win to the domination of singles for the Racers.
COMING UP
The Racers host Belmont on Friday and Tennessee State on Saturday this weekend at the Bennie Purcell Tennis courts. Senior Day will be on Saturday for the seniors’ last home court match.