Golden Eagles Drop Two Matches to Begin Season
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (February 15, 2013) - The women's tennis team began the 2013 campaign today, falling to NCAA II Harding (Ark.), 9-0, before dropping a close match to NCAA III Hendrix (Ark.), 5-4, in Little Rock.
John Brown had a difficult time against the Lady Bison as JBU only managed three set victories over Harding. Junior Tiffany Prieb stole a game at the No. 4 singles slot before freshman Krizana Saucedo managed two game victories at the No. 5 singles slot.
"We played hard but got beat by a very good squad," said head coach Paul Pautsch.
Later, John Brown was barely edged in a nail-biter against the Warriors. Hendrix grabbed the first doubles matches until sophomore Courtney Pinter and Saucedo notched the first match victory for the Golden Eagles of the season in the No. 3 doubles matchup, 8-1.
Although sophomore Kellie Mowrer and senior Michelle Caneday lost in the top singles bouts, the John Brown earned victories in three of the final four singles matches as junior Leah Engstrom won the third spot in dramatic fashion (6-1, 4-6, 10-3) while Saucedo was victorious in the fifth slot (6-1, 6-0) and freshman Katie Bellinger picked up her first collegiate victory at the No. 6 spot, winning the first set easily before hanging on in the second (6-1, 7-5).
"We're getting better each match," added Pautsch. "Our freshman ladies stepped up today and had excellent matches."
The Golden Eagles fall to 0-2 on the season and will finish its weekend games on Saturday, Feb. 16, in Conway, Ark., against NCAA III Ozarks (Ark.).
