Eagles Battle For Third Straight Win, Down Mercer 4-3

By Press release submission

Mar 30, 2022

Georgia Southern women's tennis notched its third win in a row with a hard-fought 4-3 win over in-state rival Mercer on Wednesday afternoon at the Wallis Tennis Center.

The Eagles improved to 9-7 on the season with the victory and the season sweep of the Bears, who fell to 6-11 overall on the campaign. Georgia Southern will return to Sun Belt Conference action next, visiting UT Arlington for an 11 am matchup with the Mavs on Saturday, April 2.

Despite a quick 6-1 win from Sophie Wagemaker and Hannah Daniel at No. 3 doubles, Mercer would claim the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, including getting a tiebreak win at No. 1.

In singles play, the Eagles would win four of six first sets. Mila Hartig, playing in her first match of the Spring, collected a 6-1, 6-1 win over Lauren Rich at No. 4 singles. Wagemaker then collected a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles over Alara Hollyfield to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.

Elizabeth Goines pushed the lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Lekha Varudandi at No. 5 singles. All three remaining singles matches went to third sets. After a Mercer win at No. 6 singles, it was Sonja Keranen clinching the match with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win over Mary Courville at No. 2 singles.

"Today will go down as one of the most passionate and competitive fights I've witnessed from our program since I arrived," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "I'm continually impressed with the leadership out of Liz and Hannah as they help lift up their teammates in such a positive way. Even while facing any challenge put in front of us. I thought our doubles today was exceptional at times, particularly out of No. 3 doubles with Hannah and Sophie. Pauli and Silvy were facing a 5-1 deficit at No. 2 doubles and we were trying to get them to find a little command and control, and they did. Each doubles team absolutely improved more than the one percent I ask of them each day.

"Singles was tight," McCaffrey said. "Mila had not played a match in more than five months, and she picked up right where she left off. There is a reason she has won the third-most singles matches in Georgia Southern history. She is simply a winner. Liz and Sophie came up clutch today as well as they battled the heat, but managed to finish their matches relatively quickly, which allowed the rest of the team to work through their individual matches and not feel the 'scoreboard pressure' we talk about constantly. Both Hannah and Pauli put up huge fights to find ways to push their matches to third sets. Neither gave up and found a way to give Sonja the chance to find her confidence in winning her third set by a 6-1 score. She has absolutely come alive, and the whole team and I are so incredibly proud of her work and efforts. We will now move on to an extremely tough Sun Belt weekend in Texas."

RESULTS

Singles

Naya Tillitt (MER) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 6-0, 1-6, 7-6 (3)

Sonja Keranen (GS) def. Mary Courville (MER) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1

Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Alara Hollyfield (MER) 6-1, 6-3

Mila Hartig (GS) def. Lauren Rich (MER) 6-1, 6-1

Elizabeth Goines (GS) def. Lekha Varudandi (MER) 6-3, 6-3

Francesca Francci (MER) def. Hannah Daniel (GS) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3

Singles finish: 4, 3, 5, 6, 2, 1

Doubles

Naya Tillitt/Mary Courville (MER) def. Elizabeth Goines/Sonja Keranen (GS) 7-6 (6)

Yordanova/Lauren Rich (MER) def. Silvia Martinez Jimenez/Paula Hijos (GS) 7-5