GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's tennis team concluded its 2021-22 regular season schedule by dropping a 7-0 decision to Chattanooga in a Southern Conference match at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
Competing with five players, the Spartans battled hard and enjoyed some nice moments during the match. Juliana Craft delivered smashes for points and Olivia Gallagher supplied some backhanded winners. Raegan Mitchell, Eugenia Camacho, and McCollough Perry applied pressure with their big-time shot placement for points.
 
"We know we're at a little bit of a disadvantage, but we don't look at it like that," said Perry, a consumer studies major who wants to be a celebrity wardrobe stylist. "We look at it as an opportunity. No matter what, we're going to go out, compete hard and be there for each other. This is our family and UNCG brought us together."
 
The adversity of today will be the strength of tomorrow for the Spartan program under first year head coach Paul Thomson. The Spartans are a youthful group with front-page potential and an old school pride of playing for each other.
 
"There's a story about a boy and his horse," Thomson said. "The boy tells his horse, 'I'm lost, I don't think I can find my way out.' The horse says, 'Can you see your next step?' The boy says, 'Yes.' The horse says, 'Then just take the next step.'
 
"The point is, it is one step at a time. These girls keep taking that next step. The future is bright for this bunch. I'm proud of the improvements each day and the efforts. It is tough for them to see right now. They just need to keep taking the next step. Their time is coming."
 
UNCG played with passion. Four of the five players who performed on Saturday are underclassmen. Craft is a sophomore while Mitchell, Gallagher, and Perry are freshmen.
 
"I learned it's important that you're the people around you," Perry said. "We've gone through changes, but it's brought us closer and we're really united. We've put that energy and effort into fighting each match no matter the outcome. We said that we're always going to give it our all."
 
The No. 1 doubles team of Craft and Mitchell displayed lots of heart and fight before falling, 6-4, in an entertaining match. Craft and Mitchell tied their match at 4-4. They opened the next game by registering the first point.
 
UNCG's No. 2 doubles squad of Gallagher and Perry fell, 6-2, in a match that was much more competitive the final score indicated.
 
Craft was strong at No. 1 singles despite falling 7-6, 6-4. Gallagher dropped both sets at No. 2 singles by 6-4 counts. Mitchell fell at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-4. Camacho was competitive at No. 4 singles before surrendering a 6-4, 6-2 verdict. Perry lost 6-3, 6-2.
 
"I am proud that through everything that's gone on this season, nobody has given up," Craft said. "I think everybody is fighting really hard in positions we're not used to. Everyone is growing and even competing well in those positions at this point. I think the team is coming together even more than we were in the beginning of the season."
 
UNCG will compete in the SoCon Tournament beginning on Thursday, April 21. The time, opponent, and seeding will be released Saturday evening by the SoCon office.  

Results
Singles
Nicole Abel (UTC) d. Juliana Craft, 7-6, 6-4
Jessie Young (UTC) d. Olivia Gallagher, 6-4, 6-4
Emma Van Hee (UTC) d. Raegan Mitchell, 6-1, 6-4
Callie Billman (UTC) d. Eugenia Camacho, 6-4, 6-2
Grace Anne Dunavant (UTC) d. McCollough Perry, 6-3, 6-2
Coco Bosman (UTC) won by default
 
Doubles
Abel and Van Hee (UTC) d. Craft and Mitchell, 6-4
Gallagher and Perry (UTC) d. Billman and Boswell, 6-1
Gibbens and Young (UTC) won by default