Patriot women hold off late surge from Phoenix

Cumberland’s women took on the University of the Cumberlands Patriots for the second time this season and made progress on their score from the GGC Invite, but were unable to find a way past their conference foes Thursday at the Tommy Gray Memorial Courts.

The Patriots were the first team to strike in doubles action, taking the victory on court one. Valentina Mendez and Madeleine Darud grabbed two games but fell to the Pats, 6-2, and UC secured the doubles point by taking down Juanita Mendez and Emilia Nowak on court two, 6-4.

Salvaging something positive for the Phoenix to go into singles play with, Lara Zugasti and Kaede Hatano won their match on court three, 6-4.

Cumberlands kept their momentum from doubles and carried it into singles play, doubling their lead with a sub-one hour win at the second seed. Valentina Mendez was never able to find her footing at that spot, falling 6-0, 6-0.

The next two matches both went the way of the Phoenix, helping to level things up at 2-2. Emilia Nowak was first, taking down the Patriots on court three, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Next up, Madeleine Darud won on court five, taking a close first set, 6-4, then running away with the second set, 6-1.

Shortly after Darud’s match-tying victory, Cumberlands took the win on court six to grab their lead back. Lara Zugasti battled it out with Victoria Zarate but never could find a way to pass the Patriot, losing 6-3, 6-2.

Elina Sungatullina attempted a comeback in her second set at one singles, trying to give the Phoenix a chance to level it up again, but the Cumberlands number one was too much. The Russian was up in both sets but the Patriot made her way back into each of them, eventually seeing Sungatullina fall 6-4, 6-4.

Ame Van Eijk was the final player on the court for the Phoenix, falling in a razor tight straight set loss, falling 7-5, 6-4.

Cumberland will stay at home to take on the Bethel Wildcats next Tuesday as there are just two more regular season Mid-South Conference matches left to play.

Patriot men upend Phoenix in rematch from GGC InviteThe University of the Cumberlands avenged its loss to the Cumberland men earlier this season, taking down the host Phoenix 4-1 Thursday at the Tommy Gray Memorial Courts.

Unlike the first time these two faced off, the Patriots were the ones who grabbed the doubles point. Vitor Ferreira and Julian Parada couldn’t find their way into the match, falling 6-1 at one doubles.

Daniel Wessels and Paul-Daniel Meyer continued their tear in doubles together, winning 6-2 on court three. Cumberlands were not to be denied on court two though, coming back from 4-1 down to grab the doubles point, 6-4, taking down Gabriel Godoy and Hassan Ammar.

With the doubles point and the momentum, the Patriots kept adding to their point total, winning matches on courts one and four in quick succession. Hassan Ammar fell in doubles and was unable to find his form in singles, dropping the match on court four, 6-2, 6-1

Vitor Ferreira was finally toppled at one singles, as the Brazilian battled to take more games from his opponent in the second set but it was too little too late, falling 6-2, 6-4.

Salvaging a point for Cumberland, Daniel Wessels carried over his form from doubles into singles with a victory at the number two singles spot. Controlling his opponent from end-to-end, the South African took the point for CU, 6-3, 6-4.

Gabriel Godoy had one of the longer matches of singles play, despite that though the freshman was unable to take down his opponent on court five, falling 6-4, 6-2.

Paul-Daniel Meyer, was not able to finish his match as both him and Julian Parada had split sets with their opponents but were cut short of beginning their third sets.

Cumberland will be back at home this coming Tuesday, taking on conference foes Bethel University.

CU men hold steady at No. 12 in newest NAIA top-25 tennis pollCumberland’s men maintained their position at No. 12 in the newest edition of the NAIA tennis coaches’ top-25 poll, released Wednesday afternoon by the national office.

The Phoenix remain steady in the rankings improving their overall record to 10-7 while continuing to battle through a challenging schedule that includes several Top 25 and receiving-votes opponents. The Phoenix are 2-1 in Mid-South Conference play with their lone loss to sixth-ranked Lindsey Wilson.

Georgia Gwinnett continues its reign atop the national rankings, earning all 10 first-place votes. Tennessee Wesleyan moved into the No. 2 spot, leapfrogging Southeastern (Fla.), while Keiser (Fla.) and Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) round out the top five.

The Phoenix are one of four Mid-South Conference programs in the Top 25, alongside No. 6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), No. 15 Cumberlands (Ky.), and No. 21 Tennessee Southern.

Women move up to No. 24Cumberland’s women moved up one spot to No. 24 in the latest NAIA women’s tennis coaches’ top-25 0oll, released Wednesday by the national office.

The Phoenix continue their upward trajectory in the national rankings following another strong stretch of play. Cumberland owns an 8-7 overall record and has earned wins over three teams receiving votes this spring. The team was ranked No. 25 in the previous edition of the poll and have one five out of their last six.

Keiser (Fla.) remains the top-ranked team in the nation, securing all 13 first-place votes. Georgia Gwinnett holds steady at No. 2, followed by Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Southeastern (Fla.), and William Carey (Miss.) to round out the top five.

Cumberland is one of four Mid-South Conference teams in the Top 25, joining No. 3 Lindsey Wilson, No. 19 Cumberlands (Ky.), and No. 23 Bethel (Tenn.). Campbellsville is receiving votes in the poll.