MACON, Ga. - The Georgia Southern women's tennis team wrapped up its Fall season over the weekend, competing at the Mercer Gridiron Classic. Eight Eagles competed in both singles and doubles action over the three days in Macon.
Freshman Ninon Martinache highlighted the Eagles' results on the weekend by capturing the Flight B singles title, getting a 6-0, 6-1 win over Kennesaw State's Sofia Pinedo in Sunday's final. Overall, the Eagles went 19-10 in singles competition and 8-7 in doubles competition.
"We have a good amount of momentum going into this break for the squad," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "This weekend, we certainly had pretty good individual performances from the entire team. Whether it was with a winning result, or in the level of fight someone may have demonstrated in.a particular match. I think our freshman showed quite a bit of growth over the weekend. Nino, Nana and Ana each had some great individual highlights that they can each be proud of. Lindsay did a great job rebounding off a tough first round match and made the most of her opportunities in her subsequent singles matches. Capping off the event with winning a singles flight with Nino was also one of the bright spots.
"Our goal for the coming two months will be to address the things that need to be worked on, and diligently improve on them," McCaffrey said. "All of the areas that we know we need to improve on are obtainable, with a good amount of conscientious effort. I believe that, with a clear focus on what needs to be done, we will recognize that our best days are ahead of us for this program."
Georgia Southern opens the 2023 Spring season on Wednesday, January 25, facing South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.
MERCER GRIDIRON CLASSIC RESULTS BELOW (in alphabetical order by student-athlete)
Singles
Paula Hijos (Sr.)
def. Michele Ncube (GSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7)
lost to Ji Lee (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
def. Laia Pasini (FSC) 7-6 (6), 7-5
lost to Sofia Shing (GCSU) 6-1, 6-3
Sonja Keranen (Jr.)
lost to Jolie Miller (FSC) 6-2, 6-4
def. Geanna Richard (GSW) 6-0, 6-0
def. Isabella Bolivar Garces (FSC) 6-0, 3-0, retired
def. Liza Hinrichs (MGC) 5-7, 6-4, (14-12)
Nanaka Kijima (Fr.)
lost to Camilla Ciaccia (Mercer) 6-3, 7-5
lost to Emma Fleming (GCSU) 3-6, 6-2, (10-8)
def. Kelly Klaren (FSC) 6-3, 6-1
def. Laura Vetter (FSC) 6-1, 6-4
Ninon Martinache (Fr.)
def. Sonya Kanarskaya (GSW) 6-0, 6-1
def. Alexia Alvarez (GSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
def. Marina de Diego Quinones (Mercer) 7-6 (3), 6-1
def. Sofia Pinedo (KSU) 6-0, 6-1
Liv Ryan (Grad.)
lost to Amulika Gottiparthy (KSU) 6-0, 6-2
Ana Tsitavets (Fr.)
def. Pragnya Kumar (GSU) 6-3, 6-1
def. Eden Schlagenhauf (Mercer) 1-6, 6-4, 6-0
lost to Olivia Bryant (FSC) 0-6, 6-4, 6-3
lost to Mary Courville (Mercer) 6-2, 6--2
Lindsay Tulenko (Jr.)
lost to Sofia Shing (GCSU) 6-2, 6-1
def. Marina Prieto (MGC) 5-2, retired
def. Taylor Dean (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
def. Naya Tillet (Mercer) 6-3, 6-4
Sophie Wagemaker (Jr.)
lost to Sofia Pinedo (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
def. Isadora Oliveira (MGC) 6-3, 6-2
def. Emma Fleming (GCSU) 6-1, 6-0
def. Aya El Mariasse (MGC) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
Lindsay Tulenko/Ninon Martinache
def. Maria Paredes/Alexia Alvarez (GSU) 6-2
lost to Camila Ciaccia/Eden Schlagenhauf (Mercer) 7-5
lost to Paula Hijos/Sophie Wagemaker 6-3
def. Sonja Keranen/Nanaka Kijima 6-3
Paula Hijos/Sophie Wagemaker
def. Vivien Charvatova/Kelly Klaren (FSC) 6-4
lost to Taylor Dean/Ji Lee (KSU) 6-3
def. Lindsay Tulenko/Ninon Martinache 6-3
def. Laura Vetter/Laia Pasini (FSC) 6-3
Sonja Keranen/Nanaka Kijima
def. Marina Prieto/Aya El Marrasse (MGC) 6-2
lost to Michelle Ncube/Pragnya Kumar (GSU) 6-4
lost to Lindsay Tulenko/Ninon Martinache 6-3
Liv Ryan/Ana Tsitavets
def. Sofia Pinedo/Sophia Unger (KSU) 6-2
def. Laura Vetter/Laia Pasini (FSC) 6-3
lost to Michelle Ncube/Pragnya Kumar (GSU) 6-3
lost to Camila Ciaccia/Eden Schlagenhauf (Mercer) 6-4
