Women's Tennis Challenges the Union But Can't Overcome the No. 15 Bulldogs

Harrogate, Tenn. - - After two marathon matches yesterday, the Phoenix had the tough task of taking on the no. 15 team in the NAIA, Union (Ky.). After taking the doubles point, the Bulldogs ran with the momentum and took the match to an early clinch, winning 4-1 over Cumberland.

Doubles action was all Bulldogs, with Juanita Mendez and Lara Zugasti struggling to find their footing, losing 6-1 at the no. 1 doubles spot. No. 2 and 3 both challenged Union, but the pairing of Maria Arbelaez and Alexandra Leisibach fell 6-3 in the middle slot, while Valentina Mendez and Kaede Hatano dropped the third spot, 6-4.

On the flipside, singles was much more controversial, though the Phoenix were rewarded litte. Arbelaez took the top singles spot as she often does and pushed her highly touted opponent to just a single service break in set one, but the Bulldogs ultimately took the pole position, 6-4, 6-2.

Valentina Mendez was slow out of the gates, not winning a single game in her first set, but rallied in the second to force a third set. Her tiebreak heroics carried over to the final set, though the no. 2 from Union fought her way to another victory, 6-0, 6-7, 6-2.

With just one more point needed to put the match away, the pressure was all on Lara Zugasti to keep the Phoenix alive, and that she did. Losing the first set, she had to battle her way back from behind in the second, all in the hopes of forcing a third.

The senior from Spain did everything she could to keep Cumberland alive, taking the second set 6-2 and dueled with her opponent in the third but snuck away with a 6-4 victory in the third, giving the Phoenix their first and only point of the day.

Kaede Hatano played the final match of the day and gave the no. 4 spot all she had. Dropping the first set 6-0, it looked as though things were going south quickly, but she rallied in the second set and fell just short, 6-4.

With the match clinched and the Bulldogs having to play another match on the same day, the no. 5 and 6 singles never got onto the court, meaning the Phoenix dropped their final match of the weekend, 4-1.

Cumberland will hit the road this week to play a number of matches in Macon, Georgia. Their first opponent will be host school, Middle Georgia State University, with their match being scheduled for 1:00 PM on the 22nd.

Cumberland 1, Union 4
Position	Doubles			Score
1	Liliana Drukerova/Lucy Spice (UC)	def.	Juanita Mendez/Lara Zugasti (CU	6-1
2	Anastasia Iakovleiva/Anna Nevada	def.	Maria Arbelaez/Alexandra Leisibach (CU)	6-3
3	Laia Garriga/Magdalena Skachova	def.	Kaede Hatano/Valentina Mendez (CU)	6-4

	Singles
1	Liliana Drukerova (UC)	def.	Maria Arbelaez (CU)	6-4, 6-2
2	Magdalena Skachova (UC)	def.	Valentina Mendez (CU)	6-0, 6-7, 6-2
3	Lara Zugasti (CU)	def.	Anna Nevada (UC)	4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4	Anastasia Iakovleiva (UC)	def.	Kaede Hatano (CU)	6-0, 6-4

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Players Mentioned

Maria Arbelaez: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Lara Zugasti: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Alexandra Leisibach: 5' 3"; Junior

Kaede Hatano: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Juanita Mendez: 5' 9"; Freshman

Valentina Mendez: 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Maria Arbelaez
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Lara Zugasti
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Alexandra Leisibach
: 5' 3"; Junior

Kaede Hatano
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Juanita Mendez
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Valentina Mendez
: 5' 7"; Freshman