The Lady Lions tennis team won their first two matches of the spring last Friday against their opponent the Alcorn State Lady Braves. The Lady Lions dominated the Braves, sweeping them in both matches. The score of the first match was 7-0, and the second match ended 4-0 after both teams agreed to end the match, as it was put out of reach for the Lady Braves.

“I think we performed really well,” said senior Renee Villarreal. “Everyone was being really aggressive. We all started out really nervous at first because it was our first match of the season. But, as we progressed, we started playing better and getting more confidence. Overall we did pretty good.”

The Lady Lions got off to a hot start. The match began with doubles matches where junior Margaux Kaltenbacher and sophomore Dany Raygadas defeated Lady Braves Aakansksha Punj and Marlene Maier 6-1 on No. 3 court. While on court No. 2 sophomores Lucia Bustamante and Ceci Mercier faced off against Aida Kelic and Siobhan Ryan-Bovey defeating them 6-2. Sophomore Dalina Dahlmans and Villarreal finished the sweep in the doubles competition on court No. 1 by defeating Ivana Boberic and Ekaterina Potapova 6-4.

In the singles competition for the match, the Lady Lions continued their dominant play. Villarreal won her singles match on court No. 1 (6-4, 3-0) as Braves Kelic retired. Mercier defeated Potapova (6-1, 6-1) on court No. 4. Bustamante seized her victory over Maier (6-0, 7-5) on court No. 5 while, Dahlmans poured it on Ryan-Bovey (6-4, 6-4) on court No. 2. Katlenbacher pulled out a close (6-3, 6-2) win against Kladiva Bukovec non court No. 6. Raygadas was the last one to finish with a hard fought victory over Boberic (3-6, 6-3, 10-4). The Lady Lions won every match completing a shutout 7-0 taking Match 1.

Before doubles play for Match 2, Alcorn State switched their top two double teams from Match 1. But, it did not help them as Dahlmans and Villarreal finished their match first with a 6-2 win over Kelic and Ryan-Bovey on court No. 1. Raygadas and Katlenbacher won their match over Punj and Bukovec 6-4 on court No. 3. Bustamante and Mercier match against Potapova and Boberic was a bit more competitive, but they persevered to win (7-6, 7-4) to sweep the doubles competition for Match 2.

Singles play for Match 2 ended very quickly. Bustamante easily defeated Bukovec (6-0, 6-0) on court No. 5. Raygadas won against Potapova in similar fashion (6-0, 6-0) on court No. 3. And only seconds later Mercier defeated Punj (6-1, 6-3) on court No. 4 to end the match.

Raygadas, Mercier and Bustamante were 2-0 in both singles and doubles play leading the team. Bustamante and Raygadas are proud of the team’s performance.

“I feel we have started the season really strong,” said Raygadas. “I think we have a really intense team for this season.”

“It was really good day,” said Bustamante. “We did what we have been practicing, and I think we supported each [other] really well”

The Lady Lions next match will be against University of Louisiana- Lafayette on Saturday, February 6 at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.

“I am really looking forward to continuing to have this confidence I’m having for next Saturday against Lafayette,” said Villarreal.

To see the full schedule for tennis and for more stats, visit lionsports.net.