Box Score Bowling Green, KY - Cumberlands women's tennis, the defending MSC conference tournament champions, opened their season with a 7-0 win over Pikeville in their first matchup of the Mid-South Conference Fall Invite Friday night. UC advances to the finals, set for tomorrow at Noon CT, against Cumberland.
In doubles play, Meiri Okuwaki and Tessa Gray got things started for the Patriots with a win as they grabbed the victory at #1 doubles over Gabi Guacanes and Kathi Steib 6-0. Catherine Rae and Laura Prieto followed the Patriots' top tandem with a win of their own, beating Madison Ball and Elizabeth Davis 6-1 to clinch the point for UC. At #2 doubles, Fan Shiau and Marina Nagai finished out the doubles matches with a 6-2 victory over Sarah Contreras and Hannah Thompson to complete the doubles sweep.
In singles play, Okuwaki began competition at #1 singles for Cumberlands. The reigning MSC Freshman of the year blanked the Bears' Gabi Guacanes 6-0, 6-0 to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Patriots extended their lead to 3-0 as freshman, Marina Nagai defeated Kathi Steib by a final of 6-0,6-1 at #3 singles. Fan Shiau recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win over Elizabeth Davis at #6 singles to clinch the match for UC and give them a 4-0 lead.
Rae, Fros, and Prieto closed out singles play with wins for the 7-0 final. Rae came out victorious at #5 singles with a 6-0, 6-2 over Hannah Thompson. Next, Fros defeated Madison Ball in two straight sets 6-2, 6-1. Finally Prieto posted a 6-0, 6-0 win over Sarah Contreras at #4 singles. With Prieto's 6-0, 6-0 win to close out Contreras, the Patriots back half of their singles lineup all had a set in which they did not drop a point, showing how deep of a team coach Chin Tan has at his disposal.
This marks the second consecutive year that the Patriots have advanced to the championship match of the MSC Fall Invitational.
For the latest information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
