Pascual-Larrinaga & Esguerra go undefeated

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 6, 2018) –  In one of the Bucs’ longest matches of the season, ETSU came up just short against the Furman Paladins on Friday morning at the Dave Mullins Tennis Complex. With a 4-3 win, the Paladins remain undefeated to improve to 16-8 and 6-0 in the SoCon, while the Bucs fall to 9-10 and 4-2 in the conference.

ETSU started off strong after winning the doubles point. Senior duo Alory Pereira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Ioanna Markesini (Athens, Greece) cruised to a 6-0 win over Katarina Kozarov and Katty Weymouth. Melissa Esguerra (Derrimutt, Australia) and Yi Chi Ma (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) then clinched the point for the Bus after defeating Carol Elizabeth Kerman and Gabby Rodriguez 6-4.

Furman tied the match when Katty Weymouth defeated Markesini 6-4, 6-1, but Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga (Basauri, Spain) would put the Bucs back on top with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Danni Vines. The Paladins’ Kozarov would tie the match again after coming back to win a 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 match over Pereira. In another three-set battle, the Paladins were able to take their first lead of the match. Carol Elizabeth Kerman defeated Alejandra Morales (Santiago, Chile) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Senior Melissa Esguerra would tie the match for the third time of the day after fighting back to win a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 match. At the No. 6 singles, Furman’s Gabby Rodriguez took the first set 7-6, but Yi Chi Ma fought back to tie with a 6-1 win of her own. The very last points would be decided in a tie breaker, as Rodriguez would pull away with a 7-6 (8-6) win in the last set to win the match.

The Bucs return to action this Sunday, April 8 when they host Samford at 1:00 p.m.

Singles competition

1. Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. Alory Pereira (ETSUW) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Katty Weymouth (FUR) def. Ioanna Markesini (ETSUW) 6-4, 6-1
3. A. Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSUW) def. Danni Vines (FUR) 6-4, 6-0
4. Carol Elizabeth Kerman (FUR) def. Alejandra Morales (ETSUW) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Melissa Esguerra (ETSUW) def. Georgie Walker (FUR) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
6. Gabby Rodriguez (FUR) def. Yi Chi Ma (ETSUW) 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6)

Doubles competition

1. Alory Pereira/Ioanna Markesini (ETSUW) def. Katarina Kozarov/Katty Weymouth (FUR) 6-0
2. Melissa Esguerra/Yi Chi Ma (ETSUW) def. Carol Elizabeth Kerman/Gabby Rodriguez (FUR) 6-4
3. A. Pascual-Larrinaga/Alejandra Morales (ETSUW) vs. Georgie Walker/Danni Vines (FUR) unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)

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For more information on Buccaneer women’s tennis visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s tennis page.