Eagles split final two home matches

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Lucas Baggett

The Georgia Southern University women’s tennis team went 1-1 over the weekend losing to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 1-6 and defeating Samford University 6-1.

The first match for the Eagles came against Chattanooga on Saturday. GSU fell behind early when it lost two of three doubles matches.

The only win for the Eagles in doubles play came from junior Paola Garrido and freshman Mary Phillips Smith, as they won 9-7 in the No. 1 doubles position.

Sophomore Jordana Klein gave the Eagles their only singles point of the day with a 6-3, 3-0 win in the No. 2 singles spot.

Despite a tough loss, head coach Amy Bonner saw positive signs.

“I was proud of my number one doubles team today, Mary Phillips Smith and Paola Garrido. They played great. They got a big lead and then Chattanooga came back and made it really close, and then fortunately we ended up pulling away 9-7,” Bonner said.

The Eagles had to quickly bounce back with their home finale on Sunday against Samford University. This match was also Senior Day for the lone senior Natalie Maffett.

The Eagles lost all three of their doubles matches but won five out of six singles matches on Sunday.

First off the court was senior Maffett in the No. 6 singles position. She beat her opponent 6-2, 6-0 to wrap up her career at the Hanner Tennis Complex.

“I just really kind of wanted to leave it on the court. That’s what our coach told us to do. I just wanted to make sure I played my best and played my hardest, not just for myself, but for my whole team, because I knew we could do it today and we needed a big win like today,” Maffett said.

Coach Bonner was very appreciative of what Maffett has done throughout her career after the match.

“It’s been great because she knows my expectations for this young team, and she has helped carry that out, and she’s led our young team through a great season, and we just appreciate everything she’s done,” Bonner said.

Freshman Stephanie Woods, Garrido, Klein and Smith also won their matches in singles play.

The Eagles will end their regular season with a match at Western Carolina University on Friday.