WILSON, N.C. (April 5) – Facing the league leader in the conference standings, the Trojans suffered a narrow 4-3 loss at Barton on Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas play.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women's tennis team falls to 5-8 overall with a 2-2 mark in league action. The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings in the series and the match served as a homecoming for Head Coach
Jake McCartney, who played at Barton during his collegiate career. Meanwhile, Barton earns its nine-straight win and improves to 10-2 this season behind a 4-0 record in conference play.
The Bulldogs claimed the doubles point in the opening session of the match after taking two of the three contests. In the first position, senior
Jessica Aylward and freshman
Simone Szovan dropped a 2-6 decision to Irma Granstam and Tilde Howeler. The freshmen duo of
Victoria Calle and
Valeria Guerrero were dealt a 2-6 loss by Silvia Fernandez and Alexandra Saez in the second doubles. Freshman
Lara Stamereilers and sophomore
Alina Esser captured a 6-4 win in the third slot versus Ruya Mavi and Leonie Hellum-Lilleengen.
The sides split the six singles matches on Saturday, as Barton sealed a 4-3 victory. Stamereilers competed in the first slot and rallied to a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3 win over Howeler. In the second position, Guerrero battled in a 0-6, 6-2, 4-6 loss against Fernandez before Calle produced a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Mavi in the third singles. Svozan registered a 6-4, 7-5 win versus Hellum-Lilleengen in the fourth spot before the Bulldogs captured the final two matches. Freshman
Sara Gajbhiye dropped a 5-7, 6-4 decision to Saez while Aylward suffered a 1-6, 3-6 loss against Zaratiegui Marquez.
Mount Olive returns to John Neal Walker Tennis Center tomorrow, Saturday, April 6, to face North Greenville at 10 a.m.
