Mackey wins first collegiate tennis match

Bahamian Elana Mackey was in action over the weekend and won her initial collegiate tournament singles match in tennis.

The young Bahamian athlete, just 18, represents the Mars Hill University Lions who compete out of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, in tennis and athletics.

In tennis, Mackey, a sophomore, prevailed in three sets in her singles match as the Lions hosted the Limestone University Saints in a conference battle at the Hart Tennis Complex in Mars Hill, North Carolina. Mackey defeated freshman player Sara Valentini, 6-3, 2-6 and 11-8, in her singles match, but the Lions fell to the Saints, 5-2, dropping their second straight matchup.

The Lions are just 1-9 this season, including a winless 0-8 record in the conference. The Saints sport an 8-2 win/loss record and are now 4-2 in conference play.

Limestone came away with the doubles point, winning a tiebreak in the third flight, and took four of the six singles matches.

The Lions return to the courts on Wednesday when they travel to face the Carson-Newman University Eagles at the Charles A. “Buddy” Catlett Tennis Complex in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

In athletics, Mackey competes in distance events.

“Elana is an all-around student who is competing at a very high level in both sporting disciplines. The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) congratulates her on her debut tennis win and wishes the Lions all the best this season,” said a BLTA spokesperson in a press statement.

Mackey competed in the women’s 800 meters (m) at the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears Open at the Moretz Athletic Complex in Hickory, North Carolina, on Sunday, and finished 11th. She clocked 2:45.01.

The Lions travel to take part in the VertKlasse Meeting in their next event, scheduled for April 1-2 at Vert Stadium in High Point, North Carolina. 

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