Tennis Review: Week 4

Wesleyan tennis entered its fourth week of competition with a home-and-home series against in-state foe Reinhardt University.

The Pioneers lost the first match with Reinhardt on March 13 by a score of 6-0. The doubles team of Lauren Mitchell and Joanna Esposita were featureed in the team's best match, an 8-3 loss at No. 2 doubles.

Wesleyan got a chance to turn the tables on the Eagles on Thursday evening at the Mathews Athletic Complex. Despite claiming victories at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles due to Reinhardt injuries, Wesleyan could not build enough momentum in the remaining seven contests in a 7-2 loss.

Coach Tom Bates was encouraged by the results. "This was a rematch from Tuesday, and once again our girls continued to improve. Nozomi was battling point for point with Alejandra Bejarano, scholarship player from Columbia, and was tied at 3-3 in the first set. The second set was close before Nozomi was forced to retire from the match early in the second set."

"Lauren Mitchell played maybe her best match so far against a very powerful left handed oponent in Cassie Quast and always faces the best players on the other team at positions #1 and #2. Joanna Esposita continues to work hard, and has won at least a game in every match so far this year. Haley and Gloria received a walk over win when one of their doubles oponents was injured and was not able to play. Gloria also received the win in singles against that same player. Finally, Haley was actually improving in her match against Taylor, and with more practice time can be a great contributor on the team."
 
Wesleyan faces a busy week five that features three straight matches beginning with a Thursday afternoon match at GSAC rival LaGrange. They return home for a Friday contest versus Southeastern University and then wrap up the three-match stretch with a neutral site match against Salem College in Hilton Head.