Greenville, S.C. – After day one of the Debbie Southern Furman Invitational, the Clemson women’s tennis team enjoyed a successful day of competition after posting a team record of 4-2 in singles and 2-4 in doubles.
Freshmen Eleni Louka and Ali DeSpain each registered their first singles victories as Tigers with Louka defeating Vanderbilt’s Marcella Cruz 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 and DeSpain downing Tennessee’s Ari Riley 7-6, 6-4. Veteran senior Sydney Riley and junior Laura Marti also earned singles wins in straight sets against Lyric Bonilla of Tennessee and Danni Vinese of Furman, respectively.
In doubles action, Louka/Riley opened the tournament with an 8-6 win over Commodores Amanda Meyer/Marcella Cruz but fell in the second round to Mississippi State’s Emma Antonaki/Alexandra Mikhailuk. Senior Mackenzy Middlebrooks teamed up with Marti to add another victory for Clemson after defeating Anika Yarlagadda/Sophia Patel of North Carolina, 8-4.
The Tigers look to build on their momentum tomorrow as competition continues from Greenville at 9 am.
Lexi Ryngler (Texas) def. Mackenzy Middlebrooks – 6-4, 6-0
Eleni Louka def. Marcella Cruz (Vanderbilt) – 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4
Ali DeSpain def. Ari Riley (Tennessee) – 7-6, 6-4
Anna Ross (Vanderbilt) def. Zaina Nait Omar – 6-3, 6-4
Laura Marti def. Danni Vinese (Furman) – 6-4, 6-0
Sydney Riley def. Lyric Bonilla (Tennessee) – 6-2, 6-2
Louka/Riley def. Meyer/Cruz (Vanderbilt) – 8-6
Antonaki/Mikhailuk (Mississippi State) def. Louka/Riley – 8-7 (5)
Riley/Creath (Tennessee) def. DeSpain/Nait Omar – 8-2
Wicker/Mills (South Carolina) def. DeSpain/Nait Omar – 8-6
Pesavento/Lynch (Wake Forest) def. Middlebrooks/Marti – 8-7 (2)
Middlebrooks/Marti def. Yarlagadda/Patel (North Carolina) – 8-4
9:00 am – Middlebrooks/Marti vs. Walker/Pate (Furman)
9:00 am – Louka/Riley vs. Dillon/Rompf (Furman)
9:45 am – DeSpain/Nait Omar vs. Dormet/Hurley (Ohio State)
10:15 am – Sydney Riley vs. Cusano (Texas)
11:15 am – Zaina Nait Omar vs. Marta Falceto (Mississippi State)
12:30 pm – Mackenzy Middlebrooks vs Christina Rosca (Vanderbilt)
1:00 pm – Eleni Louka vs. Alexandra Mikhailuk (Mississippi State)
1:00 pm – Ali DeSpain vs Victoria Flores (Georgia Tech)
