- J. Andrew Lockwood -
Senior Editor of The Bear Zone/ Sports Columnist
james.andrew.lockwood@student.mercer.edu
Playing against the defending A-Sun Tennis Champions, Mercer fell just short of advancing to the second round of the tournament last week in Johnson City, Tennessee, falling to Jacksonville 5-2.
Hoping to avenge an early season 4-3 loss in Jacksonville, Mercer gave the Dolphins all they could handle by taking three of the six singles matches to the third set limit. “We came up here with an opportunity but came up just a little short,” said head coach Nick Stutsman after the match. He added, “It was a long match and a lot like the match down at Jacksonville where we were in it all the way. I’m really proud of the ladies. Asking two freshmen to step in is really tough, but everyone played hard.”
In the early doubles competition, Jacksonville took an early lead as Tatiana Soldatova and Iva Jaresova defeated Mercer’s Priscilla Dias and Anna Wieslander 9-7. The Bear’s Stephanie Cohen and Amalia Bugge also dropped a close match to Fernanda Carrero and Juliana Umeki 8-5 while the Bears’ doubles team of Angelina Herman and Jennifer Lada defeated Elvira Yusupova and Virginia Iwinski by the same margin.
Although Jacksonville picked up early victories against Mercer in the doubles competitions, freshman Jennifer Lada upset top seeded Tatiana Soldatova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (1-0) in arguably the most exciting match of the day. Soldatova, one of the two first-team all A-Sun selections, defeated Lada earlier in the season, but lost in heartbreaking fashion to the freshman in the final set.
Unfortunately, the Bears would only score one more singles win as Anna Wieslander defeated Elvira Yosupova 6-3, 7-6 (4-0). The final four singles matches would go to the Dolphins as Umeki, Jaresova, Iwinski, and Carrero would notch wins over the Bear’s Bugge, Irys Citko, Cohen, and Dias respectively.
For the team’s lone senior Irys Citko, her loss to Iva Jaresova would be her final collegiate tennis match. “This year we really battled against Jacksonville. The match really could have gone either way,” Citko commented. She added, “We could’ve definitely won this match, but came up just short. Everyone really fought hard.” As for the end of her career, Citko leaves Mercer with positive outlook and plenty of tennis experience. “It’s something that I always wanted to do (on playing college tennis). I did it and I’m glad I did it. It’s over and now I’ve got to move on to the next thing,” the senior said.
The women fought hard in the first round draw against Jacksonville, but struggled mightily this year finishing with a 5-18 (1-10) conference record. Despite the rebuilding campaign, Mercer is a team to watch in future years with a skilled roster. This year’s freshmen class may be the best to come through Mercer for some time. Lada and Cohen grabbed many of the headlines over the year, but teammates Juliana Moscoso, Angelina Herman, and Sarah Hanna will help the program build for the future. Priscilla Dias and Anna Wieslander, the most experienced players, will return for their senior seasons in 2010.
Photo Courtesy of MercerBears.com
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