Women's Tennis Split First Two Matches Heading into Spring Break

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MACON, Ga. - - The Cumberland Women's Tennis team took part in matches both yesterday evening and this afternoon, beating Berry College and falling to Middle Georgia State.

Against Berry College the Phoenix dropped their doubles point, losing at number one and number two, though they picked up a win at the third spot. Valentina Mendez and Emilia Nowak lost a close one at 7-5 while Juanita Mendez and Ame Van Eijk fell 6-2.

The one bright spot in doubles came from the experienced pairing of Kaede Hatano and Lara Zugasti, winning their match in a set tiebreak, 7-6 (7-3).

Singles action quickly flipped the script for Cumberland as the Phoenix picked up wins at all but one spot, winning on courts two through five. At the number two spot Ame Van Eijk picked up the win for Cumberland in three sets, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Just past her, Emilia Nowak won in quick fashion as she only dropped three games, 6-1, 6-2. On the fourth court Valentina Mendez won her match to give Cumberland the chance to clinch the match with one more victory, taking it 6-3, 6-4.

The next two courts secured wins for themselves in both singles and doubles as Kaede Hatano and Lara Zugasti swept their day of matches. Hatano won 6-2, 7-6, while Zugasti had to go three full sets, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. The only loss in singles play came at the cost of Elina Sungatullina, falling 6-3, 6-4.

With their first win in Georgia in a week the Phoenix took on highly touted opponents in the no. 6 ranked Knights of Middle Georgia State University.

The second match of the weekend did not go as well for Cumberland as they struggled to ever get into a rhythm against the highly ranked team, losing 7-0.

Doubles play kicked off the strong afternoon for the Knights, winning on every court. Maria Arbelaez and Ame Van Eijk took two games off of the one seed while Valentina Mendez and Emilia Nowak only took one from the two seeds.

Lara Zugasti and Kaede Hatano both played well together again in the third spot, though they fell 6-4.

Singles play was a clean sweep for the Knights as no member of the Phoenix was able to upset any of the Knights. Elina Sungatullina fell 6-1, 6-2 at the top spot. Although Ame Van Eijk lost her match at number two singles, she did have an extreme effort, taking the first set to a tiebreak before ultimately losing, 7-6, 6-3.

Also putting up a massive effort, Emilia Nowak attempted to make a comeback in the second set to force a tiebreaker in the third, but the Knights were again too much, taking the third court 6-3, 7-5.
With the win already in-hand there were three more matches to be completed, all going Middle Georgia State's way. Kaede Hatano fell 6-2, 6-2, Lara Zugasti took as many games but fell 6-3, 6-1, and Madeleine Darud wrapped up play with a 6-2, 6-0 loss.

Cumberland will take on Baldwin Agricultural College tomorrow in Tifton, Georgia.

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Players Mentioned

Maria Arbelaez: 5' 6"; Senior

Madeleine Darud: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Kaede Hatano: 5' 7"; Senior

Juanita Mendez: 5' 10"; Junior

Valentina Mendez: 5' 8"; Junior

Elina Sungatullina: 5' 8"; Senior

Lara Zugasti: 5' 5"; Senior

Emilia Nowak: 5' 5"; Freshman

Ame Van Eijk: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Maria Arbelaez
: 5' 6"; Senior

Madeleine Darud
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Kaede Hatano
: 5' 7"; Senior

Juanita Mendez
: 5' 10"; Junior

Valentina Mendez
: 5' 8"; Junior

Elina Sungatullina
: 5' 8"; Senior

Lara Zugasti
: 5' 5"; Senior

Emilia Nowak
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Ame Van Eijk
: 5' 6"; Freshman