Women's Tennis Competitive Despite Undermanned Team in Georgia

Macon, Ga. - - The women's tennis team took on the second day of their long stretch of matches this weekend, facing the no. 6 and no. 3 teams in the NAIA.

Ave Maria was first up today, and the Phoenix had to surrender a doubles point before the match ever kicked off, meaning they had to win both matches to take the point. At no. 2 doubles, Kaede Hatano and Valentina Mendez did their best effort to keep Cumberland in the match, winning 6-3.

With so much pressure on the no. 1 spot, the Gyrenes made certain to take the doubles point with just a single victory, taking down Maria Arbelaez and Lara Zugasti 6-2. Only two singles matches were able to come to a conclusion before the match was called due to a clinch.

At the top singles position, Arbelaez fought hard, coming back from 5-0 down in the first set to make it 6-2, but ultimately dropped the match 6-2, 6-3. The only other spot that was able to finish was at no. 5 singles where Alexandra Leisibach took the first set to the wire, losing 6-4, but fell 6-1 in the second.

With the no. 6 singles spot being forfeited to Ave Maria, the Gyrenes had the four points they needed and the match was called with three other matches still being played.

Valentina Mendez's match sat at 6-4, 5-2 in favor of her opponent, while Lara Zugasti had just begun to find her rhythm, stopping at 6-3, 2-3. At the no. 4 spot Kaede Hatano had actually taken the first set from AMU, but was going into a third set whenever the match was called, 6-3, 2-6.

The second match of the day against the Fire went much the same, with the Phoenix being hurt by their lack of a sixth available player. Southeastern quickly took the doubles point, winning at no. 1 singles against Lara Zugasti and Maria Arbelaez with a score of 6-3.

They followed that up with a win at the second spot, sweeping Kaede Hatano and Valentina Mendez, 6-0. With the doubles point and an extra point for the Phoenix's forfeit at no. 6, all Southeastern needed was two points to take the clinch.

The Fire took no. 2 singles off of Valentina Mendez, winning 6-3, 6-2. No. 4 singles was the only other position to play to completion, as Kaede Hatano fell 6-1, 6-0. With that, the match came to a close, but there were Phoenix who were still fighting against time.

Maria Arbelaez was competing at the top singles position, with the match sitting at 6-3, 4-2. Lara Zugasti also had dropped the first set of her match, but Alexandra Leisibach looked dominant at no. 5.

The senior from Switzerland allowed her opponent to hold serve just one time in the first set, winning 6-1, and was comfortable in her second set, again leading 4-1 and allowing just the one service game.

CU will have little time to recover as they still have three more matches to play this weekend, facing off against (RV) Brenau and Reinhardt University. The first match of the day is scheduled for 9:00 AM against the Golden Tigers.

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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

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

Valentina Mendez
: 5' 7"; Freshman