The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s tennis team scored a big road win at Stetson Wednesday. The Mocs snapped the Hatters’ eight match winning streak with a 4-3 victory in DeLand, Fla.
“It was a good win,” stated UTC head coach Jeff Clark. “We beat a really good team on their home courts today. I thought we scrapped and fought all day and were fortunate to come out with a win.”
Chattanooga won the doubles point for the 10th time in 11 outings this season. Stetson took the No. 3 match when Arijana Korac and Maja Salibasic defeated senior Claire Mulyadi and junior Katie Polk (8-4).
UTC responded with 8-5 wins at No. 2 and No. 1. Senior Kaylene Chadwell and junior Kelsey Coots beat Isabella Fernandez and Eveline Lepinay to improve to 6-2 in the spring. Junior Kayla Jones and Samantha Caswell defeated Alizee Michaud and Ashley Dean to improve to 10-1 at No. 1.
Leading 1-0, UTC started slow in singles play. Stetson jumped out to a 3-1 lead and was close to taking the match after wins at 1, 4 and 6.
Mulyadi kept the Mocs alive with her (6-2, 6-1) win at No. 5. Chadwell outlasted Arijana Korac at No. 3 in one of the longest unfinished matches you will see. After 90 minutes, Korac took the first set (7-6) in an 8-6 tiebreaker. Chadwell went up 2-0 in the second before Korac was forced to retire.
That left junior Kelsey Coots as the last one on the court against Fernandez at No. 2. Fernandez won the first set 6-3, but Coots battled back to take the second 6-2. Coots fell behind in the third, trailing 4-1 and 5-3 before running off four straight games. Up 6-5, she was down 15-40 in the last game, but still managed to close out the win.
“Kelsey came through in the clutch,” added Clark. “CC got a great straight-sets win and Kaylene grinded out in a tough match.
“I am proud of the team. We’ve got to keep working hard and continue to improve. We have a lot of tough matches ahead of us.”
The Mocs are back in action on Wednesday, March 18, when they host Alabama State at the UTC Tennis Courts at 2:00 p.m. (E.D.T.). Check the women’s tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com for a link to live scoring.
Chattanooga 4, Stetson 3
Mar 11, 2015 at Deland, Fla. (Mandy Stoll Tennis)
Doubles competition
1. Kayla Jones/Samantha Caswell (UTC) def. Alizee Michaud/Ashley Dean (STET) 8-5
2. Kelsey Coots/Kaylene Chadwell (UTC) def. Isabella Fernandez/Eveline Lepinay (STET) 8-5
3. Arijana Korac/Maja Salibasic (STET) def. Claire Mulyadi/Katie Polk (UTC) 8-4
Singles competition
1. #80 Alizee Michaud (STET) def. Kayla Jones (UTC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Kelsey Coots (UTC) def. Isabella Fernandez (STET) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Kaylene Chadwell (UTC) def. Arijana Korac (STET) 6-7 (6), 2-0, retired
4. Ashley Dean (STET) def. Samantha Caswell (UTC) 6-1, 6-3
5. Claire Mulyadi (UTC) def. Eveline Lepinay (STET) 6-2, 6-1
6. Carolina Meregalli (STET) def. Alison Storie (UTC) 6-1, 6-1
Match Notes
Chattanooga - 9-2
Stetson - 9-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,4,6,5,3,2)