MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women’s tennis team battled throughout but fell 7-0 in its spring opener at Memphis on Wednesday evening at the Racquet Club.
The Skyhawks – coming off back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championship appearances – nearly claimed a point in No. 1 doubles, thanks to stellar play by Ivon Simic and Anna Marie Herbold. The UT Martin duo led 4-3 over a Memphis pair that featured the No. 18 ranked player in the nation before the set was called because of new experimental ITA rules implemented for the first month of the season.
Overall, Skyhawk head coach Dennis Taylor was pleased with his team’s effort against a formidable opponent this early in the season.
“We have only been back in school for a week,” Taylor said. “The reason for us to book a match this early was for us to treat it as a practice and to get out there on a real playing surface. Our first four matches we won’t necessarily be concentrating on the score, we will just be trying to get back into the swing of playing tennis.”
UT Martin resumes action on Sunday, Feb. 17 when it travels to Chattanooga to take on the Lady Mocs at 2 p.m.