The Mercer women’s tennis team started their season Jan. 21 with a loss against Stetson University 1-6. The Bears went on to play Florida State University Jan. 23 and lost a closer series against the Seminoles by a score of 3-4.
In the match against Stetson during first slot singles, Mary Courville lost to her opponent 6-4 in both sets. In second singles, Naya Tillet lost 6-2 and 7-5, and in third singles Lauren Rich won her first set 6-2 but would lose the next two 6-0 and 10-5. In fourth singles, Lekha Varudandi lost 6-2 and 6-3, and in fifth singles, Francesca Franchi lost 6-3 and 7-6. Kristin Yordanova would pick up the one Mercer win with a score of 6-4 and 6-3 in sixth singles. In first doubles, Courville and Tillet lost 6-3, Varudandi and Yordanova lost 6-0 in second doubles, and Rich and Franchi lost 6-2 in third doubles.
The Bears bounced back from the first two losses and completed a perfect weekend, not losing even one match. They played Alabama A&M and Young Harris College Jan. 29 and played Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Jan. 30.
In the Alabama A&M match, Courville’s score was 6-1 and 6-3, Tillet’s was 6-4 and 6-3, Rich’s was 6-3 and 6-2 and Franchi’s was 5-7, 6-4, and 10-3. Varudandi’s score was 6-0 and 6-1, and Yordanova’s was 6-0 and 6-1 as well. In doubles, Courville and Tillet won 6-0, Varudandi and Yordanova won 6-4, and Rich and Franchi won 6-4.
The team's hot streak continued against Young Harris, as the singles games saw Mercer win every single set. The doubles teams swept Young Harris as well and set Mercer up for the rest of their games on Sunday.
In the ABAC match, Courville and Tilley both won in straight sets. Rich was able to win her match in three sets. Franchi won 6-2 and 6-0, Varudandi won 6-2 and 6-1, and Yordanova won 6-0 and 6-3. For doubles, Courville and Tillet won 6-0, Varudandi and Yordanova won 6-1 and Rich and Franchi won 6-2.
