By: Benjamin Petree, Sports Information Student
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Women's Tennis team (1-0) defeated Emmanuel College (2-4) Saturday, 6-1 to open the Bobcats' 2023 campaign.
The Bobcats started the year strong with the pair of Emma Fleming (Suwanee) and Chiara Santoro (Santa Ursula, Spain) blanking Eve Robinson and Maria Rodriguez in the top slot to win the first doubles matchup of the season. Emmanuel took second doubles 6-4, but the Bobcats stormed back to take the third and finals doubles of the day. Sofia Shing (Auckland, New Zealand) and Shradha Chhabra (New Delhi, India) paired up to blank their opponents, Lauren Castillon and Soleny Gonzalez. On the second line, it was Jada Young (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) and Ashton Morrison (Cumming) losing to Sabina Roua and Darja Chistov.
Shing continued her strong play from the doubles matchup into her singles action, blanking Gonzalez in the first singles match of the season for the Bobcats. Young took the second singles matchup 6-1, 6-0 over Rodriguez, continuing the dominant play to start this season for the Bobcats. Fleming then blanked Anna Goncalves to take the third singles which clinched the victory over Emmanuel for the Bobcats.
Team win in hand, Santoro built upon her strong doubles performance, taking the fourth singles match 6-4, 6-0 from Robinson to put the Bobcats even further in the lead. Chhabra won the fifth singles match 6-0, 6-2 over Shatavisa Ghosh to put the Bobcats up 6-0 against Emmanuel. Morrison played valiantly but lost against Roua, almost pushing it to a third set with a final of 6-1, 7-6. The final match score settled out to 6-1 win for the GCSU Women's season opener.
The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. travelling to Valdosta State University.
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three-straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.
