SEWANEE, Tenn.-- Cumberland Women's Tennis opened up the 2024 calendar year with a tough loss to 13th-ranked Sewanee, 9-0, at Sewanee.

The doubles matches kicked off the competition, with Valentina Mendez and Kaede Hatano battling hard against Brooke Despriet and Katherine Petty of Sewanee at No. 1 falling short with a score of 2-8. Similarly, Juanita Mendez and Lara Zugasti fought tooth and nail against Nicole Nowak and Mariella Congeni at No. 2, only to lose in a close 7-8 contest. Maria Arbelaez and Alexandra Leisibach faced a tough challenge against Sarah Livingston and Ansley Carpenter in the third doubles match, ultimately conceding defeat with a score of 1-8.

Transitioning to singles play, Cumberland continued to fight with determination, but Sewanee's formidable lineup proved too strong. Maria Arbelaez battled hard in the first singles match against Ansley Carpenter but ultimately fell short with a score of 3-6, 3-6. Lara Zugasti faced a tough opponent in Brooke Despriet in the second singles match and struggled to gain momentum, resulting in a 0-6, 2-6 defeat. Valentina Mendez  put up a fierce fight against Sarah Livingston in the third singles match, pushing the match to three sets but ultimately succumbing to a score of 6-4, 2-6, 3-10.

In the remaining singles matches, Cumberland fought hard, but Sewanee's players proved too formidable. Madeleine Darud, Kaede Hatano, and Juanita Mendez faced tough opponents in Mariella Congeni, Nicole Nowak, and Emma Caldwell of Sewanee, respectively, ultimately falling short in their matches.

The Phoenix will be on the road next Saturday to take on Lincoln Memorial and Milligan in a tri-match at Lincoln Memorial.