The Elon University women’s tennis team opened up their season on Friday, Jan 9 against the fourth-ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
Freshman Kamilla Beisenova’s 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5) victory over freshman Tar Heel Maggie Grace proved to be the lone win for the Phoenix as Elon fell 6-1 to UNC at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
It was tough day all around for Elon as the five other matches played by the Phoenix were not very close.
The young squad, led by freshman Kirsten Ward at the top singles position, could not seem to find solid footing against the top five Tar Heels as Ward fell 6-0, 6-0 in a rather quick match against UNC’s eighth ranked sophomore Jamie Loeb.
Following Ward for the Phoenix was senior Barbara Lazarova in the number two singles match. Lazarova lost the first set to 22nd ranked senior Caroline Price 6-0 before ultimately losing the second set 6-2.
Freshman Erica Braschi, another young Elon player, also fell in the number three singles to UNC junior Whitney Kay by a final count of 6-3, 6-0. At the number four singles, senior Maria Camara Ruiz lost a 6-0, 6-2 contest against freshman Marika Akkerman.
Sophomore Taylor Casey put up one of the stronger efforts for the Phoenix in a 6-2, 6-2 loss to freshman Cassandra Vazquez to finish up the number five singles match for Elon. The Tar Heels also swept the Phoenix in the doubles round as well to round out the afternoon.
Elon will return to the court on Jan. 20 for its home opener against South Carolina State University. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.