SUMTER, S.C. --- The Tusculum University women's tennis team opened competition at the ITA Southeast Regional Championship Friday afternoon at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
All four Pioneer singles players were relegated to the consolation bracket following early setbacks, but Tusculum did advance in doubles as freshman Elodie Baechler and sophomore Paulina Loretz teamed up for a first-round win.
In the opening round of singles, Baechler defeated Czarina Aguirre of Erskine 6-1, 7-5 but fell 6-1, 6-2 to Camilla Ciaccia of Wingate in the round of 64. Senior Emilie Hansen beat Maren Kronsbein of Barton 6-1, 6-2 in her first-round match, but lost 6-4, 6-4 to second-seeded Eden Schlagenhauf of Flagler in second-round play. In other singles action, freshman Leonie Floeth went up a set but lost 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Val Borda of Anderson, and Loretz was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Zoe Heed of Coker.
All four Pioneers will compete in consolation singles on Saturday. Hansen will face Kayla Vaughan of Belmont Abbey at 4:00, Floeth plays Frankee Hendricks of Belmont Abbey at 4:30, Loretz meets up with Summer Reeves of Carson-Newman at 6:00, and Baechler will also play at 6:00 against Elliott Peterson of Belmont Abbey. Consolation winners on Saturday will advance in the bracket to play on Sunday.
In doubles play, Baechler and Loretz defeated the Barton duo of Eimear Maher and Kronsbein by a score of 8-4. They advance to face Anika Nissen and Florencia Massardo Brain of Flagler at 8:00 Saturday morning. Floeth and Hansen battled Sofia Shing and Jordan Bowie of Georgia College, but dropped their first-round doubles match by an 8-6 count.
Competition in singles and doubles will continue through Sunday at the Palmetto Tennis Center, with the championship round scheduled for Monday.
WOMEN'S SINGLES
Round of 128
Elodie Baechler d. Czarina Aguirre (Erskine) 6-1, 7-5
Emilie Hansen d. Maren Kronsbein (Barton) 6-1, 6-2
Val Borda (Anderson) d. Leonie Floeth 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Zoe Heed (Coker) d. Paulina Loretz 6-4, 6-2
Round of 64
Camilla Ciaccia (Wingate) d. Elodie Baechler 6-1, 6-2
Eden Schlagenhauf (Flagler) d. Emilie Hansen 6-4, 6-4
Consolation Round of 64
Emilie Hansen vs. Kayla Vaughan (Belmont Abbey), Saturday 4:00 PM
Leonie Floeth vs. Frankee Hendricks (Belmont Abbey), Saturday 4:30 PM
Paulina Loretz vs. Summer Reeves (Carson-Newman), Saturday 6:00 PM
Elodie Baechler vs. Elliott Peterson (Belmont Abbey), Saturday 6:00 PM
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
Elodie Baechler/Paulina Loretz d. Eimear Maher/Maren Kronsbein (Barton) 8-4
Elodie Baechler/Paulina Loretz vs. Anika Nissen/Florencia Massardo Brain (Flagler), Saturday 8:00 AM
Sofia Shing/Jordan Bowie (Georgia College) d. Leonie Floeth/Emilie Hansen 8-6
