No. 15 Women’s Tennis celebrate Sophomore Day with sweep
PERKINSTON — The Mississippi Gulf Coast women's tennis team celebrated Sophomore Day in style Friday at the MGCCC Tennis Complex. The 15th-ranked Bulldogs swept No. 23 Meridian.
"We played really well, top to bottom," Gulf Coast coach Sam Blackburn said. "They played extremely good tennis, played their level, their kind of tennis. The team chemistry and the energy amongst the whole team today was really high. It helped them play better today, so very good stuff overall."
The Bulldogs (8-6, 6-2 MACCC) didn't drop a set, losing only five games in three doubles matches.
The two sophomores being celebrated, Isona Arnaus (So., Barcelona, Spain/Centre Lopez Vicuna) and Meredith Matthews (So., Wiggins/Stone), helped lead the charge.
Matthews teamed with Katelyn Walker (Fr., Sumrall/Sumrall) to win No. 3 doubles 8-1. Arnaus and Victoria Ros Fabuel (Fr., Valencia, Spain/Colegio Sagrado Corazon Hermanos Maristas) won 8-3 at No. 1.
Arnaus also cruised at No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-2 victory.
"They meant so much and have helped this program become what it is over the last couple years," Blackburn said. "We wouldn't have a lot of these wins and so many of these special memories. We wouldn't have the culture we have without them. They've given so many hours and so much of their blood, sweat and tears to this program. I'm just so thankful for them, and I will miss them a lot."
Meridian is 2-9, 1-7.
Gulf Coast will head over to New Orleans early Saturday morning to scrimmage Dillard University at 10:30 a.m. The Bulldogs' next MACCC match is Tuesday when they head to Decatur to play East Central at 2 p.m.
Results
Team: Gulf Coast 9, Meridian 0
Doubles
No. 1: Isona Arnaus-Victoria Ros Fabuel (GC) def. Reine Akombo-Aleah McMullan, 8-3
No. 2: Pia Pugliese-Paige Baronich (GC) def. Daisi Kukuljan-Michaela Mayerhoff, 8-0
No. 3: Katelyn Walker-Meredith Matthews (GC) def. Piper Collins-Scarlett Walker, 8-2
Singles
No. 1: Arnaus (GC) def. Akombo, 6-0, 6-2
No. 2: Pugliese (GC) def. Kukuljan, 6-3, 6-2
No. 3: Ros Fabuel (GC) def. McMullan, 6-1, 6-1
No. 4: Baronich (GC) def. Elizabeth Shirley, 6-1, 6-1
No. 5: Walker (GC) def. Mayerhoff, 6-0, 6-1
No. 6: Andee Rogers (GC) def. Collins, 6-0, 6-2
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