MOUNT OLIVE (March 16) – Despite splitting the singles matches on Saturday afternoon, the University of Mount Olive women's tennis team suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat against Emmanuel in non-conference play.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 3-5 this season with a 1-2 record at the John Neal Walker Tennis Center. Mount Olive suffers its first loss to Emmanuel since 2019 after previously winning the last five meetings in the series. Meanwhile, the Lions improve to 4-6 overall while claiming regional victories in two of their last three matches.
In the double session, Emmanuel secured the point after sweeping all three matches. In the first position, senior
Jessica Aylward and freshman
Valeria Guerrero fell by a 2-6 margin against Shatavisa Ghosh and Tawana Senah, while freshmen
Simone Szovan and
Victoria Calle suffered a 3-6 defeat in second doubles by Victoria Rodriguez and Anna Goncalves. In the third slot, sophomore
Alina Esser and freshman
Lara Stamereilers were dealt a 4-6 loss versus Zyanya Rogel and Alejandra Guerrero.
The Lions would escape with the 4-3 victory after claiming three of the possible six singles contests. In the first singles, Stamereilers dropped a three-set thriller by a score of 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 1-6 to Soleny Gonzalez, but Guerrero rebounded with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Senah in the second position. Calle also registered a win by a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 margin versus Ghosh in the third slot, while Szovan dropped a 5-7, 4-6 decision to Darja Chistov at the fourth doubles. Freshman
Sara Gajbhiye produced a straight-set victory over Rodriguez in the fifth slot by a score of 7-5, 6-1, but Aylward suffered a 2-6, 4-6 loss against Goncalves in the sixth position.
The Trojans begin Conference Carolinas play on Wednesday, March 20, when they travel to face Chowan at 2 p.m.
