Barbourville, KY – Looking for their first win against a ranked opponent this season, the 17
th-ranked UC women's tennis team faced the 13
th-ranked Union Bulldogs Sunday afternoon. The Patriots battled till the final point, however, came up just short falling to Union 4-3.
Union struck first with a 6-4 win at #2 doubles, however,
Grace Steely and
Hana Shimeno defeated Alba Rodenas Risueno and Alina Schweizer 6-4 at #3 doubles to even the doubles. At #1 doubles the 13
th-ranked duo of
Tomomi Nagao and
Jaclyn Jewell out dueled Isidora Petkovic and Ljiljana Pajcin, who are ranked 11
th in the NAIA, 7-6 to give Cumberlands a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs evened the score at 1-1 with a straight set win at #2 singles. At #3 singles, Jewell was looking for her first ranked against a ranked opponent as she took the first set 6-1 over #38 Christina Schoener, however, Schoener rallied to win the point in three sets to give Union a 2-1 lead.
Cumberlands evened the score moments later as Nagao improves to 5-0 on the season at #1 singles. The junior knocked off Isidora Petkovic, who is ranked #25
th in singles, 6-4, 7-5 to even the team score at 2-2. The Bulldogs retook the lead at 3-2, before
Satsuki Mitani posted a straight set win, 6-4, 6-3, over Maria Artega to tie the score at 3-3.
At #4 singles, Shimeno dropped the first set to Mai Kitashita 6-2, however, rallied to win the second set 6-4 to force a third set tiebreaker. In the third set the two players traded points until the set was 6-6. Shimeno had a couple opportunities at match point but couldn't convert as Kitashita took the set 7-6 and Union won the match 4-3.
The Patriots will return to the court Friday, February 28, when they travel to Lexington, KY to face Midway. First serve is set for 9 a.m.
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