The Jackets women’s tennis team played matches this past weekend at the sixth ranked team in the nation Virginia Cavaliers and the 66 ranked team Virginia Tech Hokies. The ladies were coming off a victory the weekend before against the NC State Wolfpack and were looking to carry that momentum on their trip to Virginia.
The Jackets (8-7, 5-4 ACC) had a tough match against the highly ranked Cavaliers (14-4, 8-1 ACC). Senior Muriel Wacker and freshman Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer found themselves getting hard earned wins in their singles matches. Wacker defeated Maci Epstein, 6-2, 6-2, improving her singles winning streak to three straight and an overall conference singles record of 8-1. Anto-Ohlmeyer defeated UVA’s Li Xi in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
Tech found themselves down early after dropping their first doubles point 8-3 from the pair of Natasha Prokhnevska and Wacker. The Cavaliers then clinched the doubles point when the Cavaliers Danielle Collins and Epstein defeated Tech’s duo of Anton-Ohlmeyer and freshman Rasheeda McAdoo.
The Jackets then tied the match 2-2 following victories from Anton-Ohlmeyer and Wacker. Tech came up just short when Sophomore Kendal Wooodard fell to Julia Elbada, 6-3, 6-4, and Prokhenvska suffered a loss at the hands of Collins. UVA emerged out victorious with a final score of 4-2.
The ladies looked to get back on the winning track Sunday when they took on the Virginia Tech Hokies (11-9, 3-7 ACC). The Jackets got off to a great start with two doubles victories. McAdoo and Anton-Ohlmeyer cruised through their doubles match against VT’s Sanistitha Nandakuar and Laure Ramthun with a score of 8-2. The duo of Prokhenvska and Wacker followed suit and got an 8-2 victory over the Hokies Carol Kahoun and Isle Martinez-Marcos.
Wacker extended her singles winning streak to four games with a 6-1, 6-1 against Rebecca Harris, improving to a team best 9-1 in conference play. Anton-Ohlmeyer continued her good weekend with victory over Mariana Silva in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Sophomore Megan Kurey clinched her team leading fifth match of the season when she took down Martinez-Marcos 6-2, 6-1. Woodard was able to come away with a hard fought victory over Kelly Williford 6-3, 7-6 (7-2). Prokhnevska came up just short in a nail biter against Nandakumar, falling 6-4, 7-6 (7-1). Tech came away with the Victory at Virginia Tech 6-1.
Head coach Rodney Harmon is very optimistic after what he saw that weekend.
“I think our trip to Virginia was successful. We have good momentum heading into next weekend against Pittsburgh and Syracuse who are two good ACC opponents. We are looking forward to getting back to Atlanta for a big week of tennis,” Harmon told ramblinwreck.com.
The Jackets will host Pittsburgh and Syracuse at home this weekend.