Women's tennis sweeps season-opening double header

Box Score vs. UAB Box Score vs. UT Martin

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Behind quality singles play and lineup depth, the University of Memphis women's tennis team swept its double header against UAB and UT Martin for a successful season-opening day.

"I'm really pleased. I felt like this morning was a time to get some of the jitters out, and this evening I felt like we were more comfortable on the court," head coach Hayden Perez said. "Doubles was strong, so to get off to a good start in each match is always a positive. Every court took care of its business. I was happy with how the day ended."

Match 1: Memphis 5, UAB 2

In the first match of the day, Memphis downed UAB 5-2 behind a strong finish in singles play.

The Tigers grabbed the doubles point with a 6-1 win from Claire Sullivan and Josephine Cao at the No. 3 position and a 6-1 victory on court 2 from Hanna Sohn and Katherine Cao.

Memphis used the doubles point win to propel two quick singles victories. Freshman Lina Hohnhold impressed in her Tiger debut with a 6-0, 6-1 straight-set win, and senior Anki Wind extended the Memphis lead to 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-3 win on court 3.

UAB rallied with a pair of singles wins at the Nos. 2 and 5 positions to trim the gap, but Memphis silenced the comeback bid. Newcomer and Memphis native Claire Sullivan used a pair of third-set service breaks for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory on and clinched the match for the Tigers.

"I tried to stay on the court mentally and focus on every shot and take it point-by-point," Sullivan said of the match-clinching win. "I knew Hanna was battling too on court one, so I knew we were right there with each other."

Playing at the No. 1 position, Sohn trailed 4-3 in the third set, but broke serve late and rallied for a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win to set the 5-2 final score.

Match 2: Memphis 7, UT Martin 0

Memphis showed no signs of slowing in the second match of the day, sweeping in-state foe UT Martin by a final of 7-0.

The Tigers swept the doubles point and earned straight-set wins on all six singles courts. Wind, who saw her first dual match action since last spring due to injury, tallied two straight-set victories on the day and brought strong leadership and experience to court.

"My goal was to come out and play freely and maybe show some of the freshmen how college tennis goes with dual matches," Wind said. "I wanted to have high energy, and I think I did well with that. I'm glad I came through in straight sets."

Memphis seeks to build off the early-season momentum next weekend as the Tigers travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for a pair of matches against Tennessee and ETSU.

RESULTS

Memphis 5, UAB 2

Singles
1. Sohn (MEM) def. Shchipakina (UAB) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
2. Herrmann (UAB) def. Bente (MEM) 6-4, 6-2
3. Wind (MEM) def. Sisirak (UAB) 6-4, 6-3
4. Sullivan (MEM) def. Bertrands (UAB) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
5. Hecking (UAB) def. K. Cao (MEM) 7-6, 6-3
6. Hohnhold (MEM) def. Hrabalova (UAB) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
1. Herrmann/Grzywocz (UAB) def. Wind/Bente (MEM) 6-4
2. Sohn/K. Cao (MEM) def. Sisirak/Shchipakina (UAB) 6-1
3. Sullivan/J. Cao (MEM) def. Hrabalova/Hecking (UAB) 6-1

Memphis 7, UT Martin 0

Singles
1. Sohn (MEM) def. Jumamukhambetova (UTM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Bente (MEM) def. Potter (UTM) 6-1, 6-2
3. Wind (MEM) def. Streif (UTM) 6-0, 6-1
4. Sullivan (MEM) def. Campbell (UTM) 6-0, 6-2
5. K. Cao (MEM) def. Geut (UTM) 6-1, 6-2
6. J. Cao (MEM) def. Burak (UTM) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. Sohn/K. Cao (MEM) def. Jumamukhambetova/Potter (UTM) 7-6
2. Wind/Bente (MEM) def. Burak/Streif (UTM) 6-1
3. J. Cao/Hohnhold (MEM) def. Campbell/Geut (UTM) 6-3

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Players Mentioned

Josephine Cao

Katherine Cao

Hanna Sohn

Anki Wind

University of Memphis Athletics