The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team got off to a strong start on the opening day of the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic. The Mocs won 10 of 12 bouts, including eight singles wins in nine matches.
Junior Kayla Jones opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Jacksonville State's Olivia Nguyen to advance in the top Blue Draw. Senior Kaylene Chadwell and junior Kelsey Coots both won in the Choo Choo Draw and freshman Samanthan Caswell stayed undefeated with a win in the Gold Draw.
Senior Claire Mulyadi, juniors Alison Storie and Katie Polk and sophomore Rachele Gazzola also had singles wins. Polk battled back for a three-set victory against Middle Tennessee's Alexandra Torres (4-6, 6-2, 6-1) in the North Shore Draw. The rest of the wins were in straight sets.
“It was a good first day,” stated head coach Jeff Clark. “Even in the matches we lost, we were competitive. There were a lot of tough battles, but we definitely had some nice wins today.”
Rain forced much of the early action indoors at various venues around town. By the end of the day, the skies had cleared and the women finished play outdoors at the Baylor School. Teams will be back on the court at 9:00 a.m. (E.D.T.) at the Champions Club in Chattanooga on Saturday.
UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic Women's Results
Blue Draw
Kayla Jones (UTC) def. Olivia Nguyen (JSU) – 6-2, 6-2
Choo Choo Draw
Kaylene Chadwell (UTC) def. B. Tari (UTM) – 7-5, 6-3
Kelsey Coots (UTC) def. Laura Kent (LIP) – 6-1, 6-3
Gold Draw
Samantha Caswell (UTC) def. Christina Perez de la Torre (KSU) – 6-0, 6-2
Lookout Mountain Draw
Claire Mulyadi (UTC) def. Marina Marti (EKU) – 6-1, 6-1
Tennessee River Draw
Alison Storie (UTC) def. Isabella Castro (KSU) – 6-2, 6-3
Rachele Gazzola (UTC) def. Elizabeth Ansari (WCU) – 6-1, 6-3
North Shore Draw
Katie Polk (UTC) def. Alexandra Torres (MT) – 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Amy Lowther (UAB) def. Jovana Pecovski (UTC) – 6-2, 6-3
Blue Doubles Draw
Kayla Jones-Kelsey Coots (UTC) def. Labeja-Hadnadova (EKU) – 8-3
Gold Doubles Draw
Samantha Caswell-Kaylene Chadwell (UTC) def. Mirceta-Ulanday (JSU) – 8-3
Silver Doubles Draw
Torres-Sediri (MT) def. Alison Storie-Rachele Gazzola (UTC) – 8-7 (7)
