WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's tennis team battled it out during day two of ITA North Carolina regional. Play kicked off this morning with doubles play. The Spartans drew tough tasks this morning in the main draw taking on teams from South Carolina and Duke.
Both doubles pairs of
Raegan Mitchell/
Arina Babkova and
Olivia Gallagher/
Hanna Giddings dropped their opening-round matches. The duo of Gallagher/Giddings had their share of chances versus Duke falling 8-5. The pair had the opportunity to jump out to a 5-0 lead in the match over the Blue Devils. However, two lost deuce points led to a smaller 3-2 advantage. After holding a 5-4 lead, they ultimately dropped the set 8-5 to the Duke pair.
Mitchell and Babkova fell by an 8-3 score to SEC and national powerhouse South Carolina.
The Spartans' day turned around after that. Both doubles pairs earned two victories in the consolation bracket. Gidding/Gallagher won 8-4 over UNCW and 8-4 over Presbyterian. Babkova/Mitchell continued the good work with victories over the Charlotte 49ers, 8-6 and Coastal Carolina, 8-5. Both pairs will play again Saturday morning in the consolation semifinals.
In singles play, newcomer
Alexandra Dodashev Enbert won her opening-round singles match over Furman, 6-2, 6-3. Dodashev trailed 0-3 in the second set but rallied with six-straight games to close out the match. "Believing in myself in difficult times is big for me," stated the sophomore. "Today I did not look back but strived forward. I am very proud of the work I have done."
Babkova notched arguably her biggest win of the fall campaign, downing Clemson 6-4, 6-3. "Today's win was a big boost to my college career," mentioned Babkova. "I am so happy that I am getting comfortable on the court again and that I am able to compete against top competition alongside my teammates."
Last but not least,
Juliana Craft had to scrape and claw but was able to close out the wins for the day for UNCG with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Gardner Webb.
"Today's results were great and I am happy for the girls and the wins," reacted Head Coach
Paul Thomson. "But I am more impressed with the way we played. They need some wins for their confidence. But I am looking at the ones who are buying into what we are working on in practice every day. The ones that are translating our everyday work in training are seeing their time paying off. We have a long way to go and a lot more we can improve upon."
The ladies are back at it tomorrow morning on the campus of Wake Forest University beginning at 9:00 a.m. with more doubles play. Two of the four doubles teams are still alive in competition. Singles will follow doubles in the afternoon with seven of the nine Spartans still alive. Three of those are still in the winner's bracket.
Arina Babkova is still alive in the Main draw.
Full tournament results and updates on Saturday start times can be found here
https://colleges.wearecollegetennis.com/Competitions/WakeForestUniversityW/Tournaments/Overview/5ced0ef5-d604-4c0c-bbb2-e92728ce5831
SINGLES
Arina Babkova (UNCG) defeated Sophia Hatton (Clemson) 6-4, 6-4
Juliana Craft (UNCG) defeated Katie Watts (Gardner-Webb), 6-4, 6-3
McCollough (UNCG) lost to Andrea Redondo (WCU), 6-0, 6-0
Alexandra Dodashev Enbert (UNCG) defeated Alex Griffith (Furman), 6-2, 6-3
Luna Urso (UNCG) lost to Stela Joksimovic (UNCW), 6-3, 6-1
Ella Olexa (UNCG) lost to Brianna Wilbur (Wofford), 6-2, 6-0
DOUBLES
Craft/Urso (UNCG) lost to Blouin/Wilbur (Wofford), 8-6
Dodashev Enbert/Perry (UNCG) lost to Groen/Osadova (WCU), 8-5
Babkova/Mitchell (UNCG) defeated Aranda/van Poppel (Charlotte), 8-5
Babkova/Mitchell (UNCG) defeated Burger/Babayan (Coastal), 8-6
Babkova/Mitchell (UNCG) lost to Mills/Malkin (South Carolina), 8-3
Gallagher/Giddings (UNCG) defeated Arli/Huffman (UNCW), 8-4
Gallagher/Giddings (UNCG) defeated Davis/De Sousa (Presbyterian), 8-4
