Bahamian collegiate tennis players Sydney Clarke and Sierra Donaldson recorded individual victories, helping their respective schools in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tennis action late Wednesday afternoon.
On the NCAA Division I circuit, Clarke and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers (1-3) won 5-2 in their home dual against the Mercer University Bears (0-1) at the George Ward Park in Birmingham, Alabama. It was their first victory for the season but their 10th straight home win dating back to April 6, 2019.
In NCAA Division II play, Donaldson and the Lee University Flames (2-0) upset the nationally number 23 ranked Tusculum University Pioneers (0-1) 4-3 at the Nicholas Tennis Complex in Greenville, Tennessee.
Clarke was one of four Blazers players to win their singles matches. The 18-year-old had a tough time at the beginning of her match against the Bears’ Lekha Varudandi. The Blazers freshman lost the opening set 6-3, but dug deep and was able to win the second set 6-4 to set up a decisive third set. In that third set, the Bahamian went on to win 10-4, sealing the match two sets to one, in what turned out to be the longest singles match of the afternoon.
Clarke was not so fortunate in doubles as she and her doubles partner Megan Bertrands fell in a heart-breaking tiebreaker 7-6. They played against Varudandi and Alara Hollyfield.
This was a huge win for the Blazers as they fell to the University of Alabama, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State University – all Power 5 teams – in their first three matchups of the season.
Blazers’ Head Coach Mark Tija said it feels good to get in the win column. He was proud of his team’s play on Wednesday.
“We have played a very tough schedule to date which helped us prepare for this feisty Mercer team. I thought we showed improvement in our doubles and we did a good job of trusting ourselves in the pressure moments,” Tija said.
Over in Greenville, Tennessee, Donaldson was instrumental in her team’s victory as she tied the dual 3-3 with a win over the Pioneers’ Paulina Loretz. The senior won 6-3 and 6-3.
On the doubles side, Donaldson and her partner Carley Sickinger took down Julia Lopez and Loretz, 7-6 (8-6). This win avoided a Pioneers’ sweep in the doubles portion.
Pioneers’ Head Coach Patric Hynes said he was glad to see Donaldson and the team fight hard for the win on Wednesday.
“That’s the biggest win this program has had,” Hynes said. “To knock off a top-25 program and just keep scrapping, keep fighting and never say die all day is huge for this team. We were never in front until the last match. What a win for us! I am so proud of these ladies for what they accomplished out here today – massive wins for all four girls in singles.”
The first victory of the season for the Flames came against the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs with a 4-3 scoreline.
The Flames host the Shorter University Hawks at DeVos Tennis Center in Cleveland, Tennessee, on Thursday, February 18, starting at 2 p.m. This will be their first Gulf South Conference matchup for the season.
Clarke and the Blazers return to the hard courts on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, when they play Alabama A&M at the Athletic Club in Huntsville, Alabama.
The post Clarke, Donaldson victorious on college circuit appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/clarke-donaldson-victorious-on-college-circuit/
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