The men’s and women’s tennis teams played twice last week, facing off against the New Jersey Institute of Technology at home on Thursday, April 12, before playing USC Upstate on Saturday.
The women won 5-2, 4-3 respectively while the men won 6-1 before falling 5-2.
Seniors Kennedy Craig, Laura Hopton and Alexandra Mercado were honored on Senior Day against NJIT, and all three put on inspiring final performances at the Betty Siegel courts in the Owls’ victory.
The Owls won their first point of the day from a doubles victory by Jessica Cantrell and Jada Tijani, with Tijani also earning the first singles point with a 7-5, 6-2 victory to take the Owls ahead 2-0. Mercado finished her final home match in style, routing her opponent 6-3, 6-3. Hopton took her opponent to three sets but lost.
Later on, Craig clinched the fourth and winning point for the Owls in an intense match, with her opponent taking her to a tiebreaker twice but ultimately falling short. Cantrell clinched the final point of the day, giving the Owls their second win of the season.
“It was a good team win,” said assistant head coach Miranda Foley. “Senior Day is always a special occasion, and these ladies really used the added motivation to get the job done today.”
On Saturday, the women scored their third victory, edging out the Spartans 4-3.
The Owls secured a spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament with the victory, starting out with a strong doubles showing. Hopton earned the first singles point for the Owls, downing her opponent 6-4, 6-3.
After Cantrell won her match, Mercado clinched the victory in a three-set battle, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Her victory gives her four straight wins to round out the regular season as she continues to be the clear anchor of the team.
The men’s team found success in one of their two matches last week, defeating the Highlanders 6-1 before falling to the Spartans 5-2.
Seniors Manuel Castellanos and Corey Smith were honored before the match against NJIT. While three Owls handily won their straight set matches, Smith and Drew Lahey had to deal with tough three-set matches.
Both players went to third-set tiebreakers and won, leading the Owls to a dominant victory on Senior Day.
“I am really proud of our seniors not only for what they did today but for what they have done during their whole careers,” said director of tennis Eduardo Rincon. “These are two guys who are going to be successful in life no matter what they do.”
On Saturday, Fermin Calvo Barcelo and Lucas de Torres Curth clinched the two points the Owls earned against the Spartans, but it was not quite enough to win a second straight match.
The men’s and women’s teams begin their ASUN Tournament play on Friday, April 20.
