The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 match to Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C., today.  The Mocs fall to 8-8 overall and 1-4 in Southern Conference play with the loss, while the Catamounts improved to 8-6 and 1-3 in league play. 

WCU opened by taking the doubles point.  Freshmen Callie Billman and Wilma Bergqvist defeated Emily Elliott and Antonella Benavides 6-1 at No. 3, but the Catamounts grabbed the other two matches for a 1-0 lead. 

Singles play was a roller coaster with Western Carolina extending their lead to 3-0 with wins at No. 3 and No. 5.  Junior Emma Van Hee started a UTC rally with a (6-4, 6-2) win over Jacy Smith at No. 2. 

Billman kept it going for the Mocs with a three-set win over Elliott at No. 6 (6-4, 5-7, 6-1).  Junior Bogdana Zaporozhets tied the match at 3-3 with her three-set win over Hoda Habib at No. 4 (2-6, 6-0, 6-3).  UTC dropped the final at No. 1 to give the Catamounts the team win.

Up next for the Mocs is a Monday dual against UNCG.  Action takes place at 2:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) at the UTC Tennis Center.

Western Carolina 4, Chattanooga 3
4/9/2021 at Cullowhee, N.C. (Catamount Tennis Complex)
Doubles competition
1. Jacy Smith/Julia Pezzuco (WCU) def. Emma Van Hee/Caroline Gibbens (UTC) 6-4
2. Kata Foldeak/Anna Uljanov (WCU) def. Jessie Young/Bogdana Zaporozhets (UTC) 6-4
3. Callie Billman/Wilma Bergqvist (UTC) def. Emily Elliott/Antonella Benavides (WCU) 6-1

Singles competition
1. Kata Foldeak (WCU) def. Jessie Young (UTC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (2-6), 6-1
2. Emma Van Hee (UTC) def. Jacy Smith (WCU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Anna Uljanov (WCU) def. Polina Goloputova (UTC) 6-1, 6-3
4. Bogdana Zaporozhets (UTC) def. Hoda Habib (WCU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-3
5. Antonella Benavides (WCU) def. Caroline Gibbens (UTC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Callie Billman (UTC) def. Emily Elliott (WCU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1

Match Notes
Chattanooga 8-8, 1-4 SoCon
Western Carolina 8-6, 1-3 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,5,6,4,1)
T-3hr 35