CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 19, 2024) – The No. 1 seed ETSU women's tennis team advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament Final on Friday afternoon with a 4-1 victory over No. 5 seed Mercer. ETSU improves to 16-7 with the win and the Bucs continue their streak of advancing to every SoCon Final since re-joining the league in 2015.
Like they have many times this season, the Bucs jumped out to an early lead in doubles. ETSU's top two teams, who earned All-SoCon First Team honors earlier this week, clinched the point for the Bucs with wins by scores of 6-2 and 6-4.
Rivera continues to play well for the Bucs in this tournament as she won her singles match 6-2, 6-0 to put ETSU up 2-0. After
Alessandra Caceres won her match, 6-1, 6-2, it looked like ETSU may win another 4-0 match, but Mercer picked up the next point. Despite dropping its first point of the tournament, the Bucs bounced back and
Ralitsa Alexandrova clinched the match for the Bucs, 6-4, 7-5.
Singles Competition
1. Teodora Ristic (MER) def.
Sofia Markova (ETSU) 6-0, 6-3
2.
Fernanda Carvajal (ETSU) vs. Lea Falentin (MER) 6-1, 4-6, 5-5, unfinished
3.
Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Emi Cosatto (MER) 6-2, 6-0
4.
Jana Rovira (ETSU) vs. Marina Quinones (MER) 4-6, 0-1, unfinished
5.
Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) def. Mariella Minetti (MER) 6-1, 6-2
6.
Ralitsa Alexandrova (ETSU) def. Tea Zivic (MER) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles Competition
1.
Fernanda Carvajal/
Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Lea Falentin/Emi Cosatto (MER) 6-4
2.
Sofia Markova/
Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) def. Teodora Ristic/Marina Quinones (MER) 6-2
3.
Jana Rovira/
Ralitsa Alexandrova (ETSU) vs. Mariella Minetti/Tea Zivic (MER) 3-5, unfinished
The Bucs will aim for their second consecutive conference tournament title tomorrow when they take on No. 2 seed Furman. ETSU outlasted the Paladins last Saturday, 4-3, to capture its first SoCon Regular Season Championship. First serve between ETSU and Furman is set for Noon.
For more information on Buccaneer women's tennis, visit
ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's tennis tab.
