Freshman strong in first invitational of Spring

Photo by John Nakano

The Tech women’s tennis team opened the spring season this past  weekend at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa at the Mal Moore Invitational. The team, which features no seniors, is looking to put together a special season. This tournament also marked the return of junior team captain Megan Kurey, who sat out during the fall season while she was recovering from an injury.

On the first day of the Mal Moore Invitational, the Jackets saw two wins and two losses in doubles matches.

Freshman Paige Hourigan and sophomore Rasheeda McAdoo were successful in their doubles set, while freshman Johnnise Renaud and junior Natasha Prokhnevska also brought in a doubles victory on day one.

Freshman Alexis Prokopuik and sophomore Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer  were not as successful in their doubles match, as they were defeated 6-0 by Northwestern’s Alex Chatt and Brooke
Rischbieth.

Kendal Woodard and Megan Kurey, both juniors, were forced to forfeit their match due to injury. There was only one win in singles, by Prokopuik.

The second day of the invitational was more successful for the Jackets. Renaud and Prokhnevska ended the day undefeated in
doubles.

Woodard and Prokopuik were also more effective, winning their first doubles match as a pair.

Hourigan finished day two with a win in her first singles match of the tournament, defeating Daneika Brothwick of Florida State 6-4.

Renaud had a three set loss in singles while Anton-Ohlmeyer also experienced a two set defeat. Day two ended with three doubles wins for the Jackets.

McAdoo and Prokopuik were victorious in their single matches to bring the tally for the second day of the invitation to three singles victories and three doubles victories.

Prokopuik had a triumphant last day on day three of the invitational. She went undefeated in singles as well as in her doubles match with McAdoo.

Renaud recovered from her day two loss and closed the tournament undefeated in doubles with Prokhnevska. Renaud did not compete in her singles match on the final day of the invitational.

Hourigan defeated her singles opponent, as did Anton-Ohlmeyer and Woodard.

Kurey had a rough start to her singles match but bounced back, gaining a win. McAdoo had less success in singles, starting out strong, then falling in the tie-breaker of her singles match.

At the close of day three, the Jackets took home nine singles victories and six wins in doubles matches. In total, the team finished with 16 total victories.

Tech, ranked No. 18 in the nation, will host the NCAA Kick-Off Weekend at the Ken Byers Tennis Center starting Jan. 24.

Tech’s women’s tennis team will open the weekend at 10 a.m. in a match against the Columbia Lions, ranked No. 40 in the nation. No. 19 Oklahoma State, just behind Tech in the rankings.

The championship match will be on Sunday at 2 p.m. following the consolation matches that begin at 10 AM on the same day. The Jackets will begin ACC play Feb. 27 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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