Drama seems to be the theme in recent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis matches.  Last weekend, the Mocs knocked off Furman, 4-3, for their first win over the Paladins since 1997.  Today, UTC came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Southern Conference leader East Tennessee State, 4-3 in Johnson City.

For the Mocs, it was their eighth win in a row as they improve to 15-2 overall and undefeated in SoCon action at 3-0. The Bucs dropped to 10-4 on the year and are 3-1 in the SoCon after their first league loss. 

“This was an unreal team victory,” stated head coach Jeff Clark.  “I am so proud of our girls for not giving up.  They never stopped believing they could win the match when we were down 3-0.”

UTC fought off numerous match points and won the last four bouts in three-set thrillers.  In fact, two of the three doubles matches needed tiebreakers to decide the outcome.

Junior Kayla Jones and freshman Samantha Caswell opened with an 8-4 win over Lyn Yee Choo and Ana Gerbasi at No. 1.  They improved to 14-2 in the top spot for the Mocs this spring. 

Ioanna Markesini and Melissa Esquerra evened the doubles with a (8-7 (3)) win over senior Claire Mulyadi and Katie Polk at No. 3.  The Bucs grabbed the doubles point when Jessica Brumit and Regina Nychytailova scored a (8-7 (4)) win over senior Kaylene Chadwell and junior Kelsey Coots at No. 2.   

Things got really interesting in singles after ETSU won the first two matches at No. 2 and No. 5 to take a 3-0 lead.  The Bucs only needed one more win to take the match.

It did not look good for UTC with Jones losing nine of the first ten games of her match against Choo at No. 1.  She battled back to win a tiebreaker in the second set (7-6 (5)). 

Down 5-3 in the third, Jones saved multiple match points before forcing another tiebreaker.  The extra frame was also epic, as she fought off two more match points before finally winning 12-10 for a three set victory (0-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10)).     

“I thought Kayla Jones had the best match of her career,” added Clark.  “The way she kept battling back was amazing.”

Chadwell closed the gap to 3-2 with a three-set (6-2, 4-6, 6-1) win over Gerbasi at No. 3.  The victory was pay-back for Chadwell who lost in straight sets to Gerbasi in the fall. 

Caswell was next off the court with her sixth win in a row.  She trailed 4-1 in the third and saved a match point when she was down 5-4.  She won the last four games of the match to take a (6-3, 3-6, 7-5) three-set win. 

The last match of the day was between a pair of Johnson City natives in ETSU's Brumit and UTC junior Alison Stoire.  Storie fell behind a set and was down 3-0 before storming back.  She won the second set 6-4 and was in control throughout the third in her (2-6, 6-4, 6-3) win.  It is the second straight match Storie has won the final match of the day to clinch the team victory. 

The Mocs travel to Wofford on Friday.  Match time against the Terriers is set for 1:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) in Spartanburg, S.C.

Chattanooga 4, East Tennessee State 3
Apr 02, 2015 at Johnson City, Tenn. (Dave Mullins Tennis Complex)
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Caswell/Kayla Jones (UTC) def. Lyn Yee Cho/Ana Gerbasi (ETSU) 8-4
2. Jessica Brumit/Regina Nychytailova (ETSU) def. Kaylene Chadwell/Kelsey Coots (UTC) 8-7 (7-4)
3. Ioanna Markesini/Melissa Esguerra (ETSU) def. Claire Mulyadi/Katie Polk (UTC) 8-7 (7-3)

Singles competition
1. Kayla Jones (UTC) def. Lyn Yee Cho (ETSU) 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (12-10)
2. Regina Nychytailova (ETSU) def. Kelsey Coots (UTC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
3. Kaylene Chadwell (UTC) def. Ana Gerbasi (ETSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
4. Samantha Caswell (UTC) def. Melissa Esguerra (ETSU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
5. Ioanna Markesini (ETSU) def. Claire Mulyadi (UTC) 6-4, 6-2
6. Alison Storie (UTC) def. Jessica Brumit (ETSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3

Match Notes
Chattanooga 15-2, 3-0 SoCon
East Tennessee State 10-4, 3-1 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,5,1,3,4,6)