The women’s tennis team traveled to the Metroplex Tuesday to begin the spring season against North Texas and Texas Christian University and dropped both matches 7-0.
North Texas presented a tough roster to the Wildcats with two nationally ranked singles players in seniors Tamuna Kutubidze (No. 41) and Minying Liang (No. 102).
Kutubidze faced sophomore Nini Memishishi in singles and swept the match 6-1, 6-3. Freshman Allison Stewart went up against Liang and fell 6-1, 7-5.
Junior Sarah Adams played in the No. 1 spot for the Wildcats and dropped her match senior Maria Kononova 6-4, 6-3. Sophomore Ileana Mocciola was the lone Wildcat to win a single set as she lost her match to sophomore Sille Tranberg 6-2, 3-6, 10-5.
Adams said despite losing to start the season, she feels her team put forth a great effort coming off a long break.
“There are always positives to take away from every match, no matter what the level of competition is,” Adams said. “Though we didn’t come out on top Tuesday, I thought our team showed amazing heart and effort and represented ACU at the highest level. With everyone still shaking off a bit of rust from the break, ACU women’s tennis put up a great fight in both matches.”
Against TCU, Memishishi and seniors Jordan Henry and Autumn Bellow came closest to singles wins.
Memishishi fell one game short in each set to sophomore Stevie Kennedy as she lost 7-6, 7-6. Bellow defeated freshman Mercedes Aristegui in the first set of their match 7-5 but fell in the next two 6-3, 1-0. Henry took the second set in her match 6-2 but lost in the first and third 6-1, 6-0 to freshman Addy Guevara.
Adams said going forward the team will continue to get better and be more prepared for matches.
“Though our team had an amazing attitude all around, there is always room to improve,” Adams said. “We’re never going to be perfect on the court but we can try our best to be, for our Lord and Savior. On the technical side of the game, we’re going to focus on each of our own unique game styles because everyone has different strengths.”
The Wildcats will go north this weekend for the Indiana Invitational which will last Saturday through Monday.
