Mercer Secures Spot in Semifinals with Win Over Chattanooga

Thursday, April 20

Chattanooga, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Teodora Ristic hitting a forehand shot on the move

Mercer Secures Spot in Semifinals with Win Over Chattanooga

4/20/2023 3:54:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Amanda Cover

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 4 Mercer women's tennis beat No. 5 Chattanooga in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Championship, 4-1, to advance to the semifinals where the Bears will face No. 1 Furman on Friday, April 21 at 2 p.m. Teodora Ristic did not lose a single game today, sweeping her doubles and singles matches.

The Bears dominated doubles play as Ristic and Mary Weston Courville swiftly won 6-0 on court one against Jessie Young and Caroline Gibbens. The duo extended their doubles winning streak to eight matches. Marina de Diego Quinones and Kristin Yordanova clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 finish on court three over Nicole Abel and Callie Billman. When the point was clinched, Camilla Ciaccia and Eden Schlagenhauf were winning 5-2 on court two.

An ace by Marina to clinch the doubles point!

1. Courville/Ristic: 6-0✅
2. Ciaccia/Schlagenhauf: 5-2
3. Yordanova/de Diego Quinones: 6-1✅#RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/8jNpfZry9o
— Mercer Women's Tennis (@MercerWTennis) April 20, 2023

Ristic continued the fast pace in singles, sweeping Young 6-0, 6-0 for a quick next point for Mercer. This was the fourth-straight singles win for the defending two-time SoCon Player of the Week.

Chattanooga got one point back on court two, but the Mocs did not earn any more before Mercer took the match.

On court five, de Diego Quinones fought tired legs to win in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 over Lucia Melendez. For the clinching point, Ciaccia closed out a tight 7-5, 6-4 win over Abel on court four. When the match was decided, Lekha Varudandi was in a tiebreak in the second set after winning the first set 6-4.

Camilla clinches for the Bears!!#RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/xyh7qOue0w
— Mercer Women's Tennis (@MercerWTennis) April 20, 2023

Making the second SoCon semifinal appearance in program history, Mercer will face top-seeded Furman on Friday, April 21 at 2 p.m. When the two teams met during the regular season, the Bears fell 4-3 in a close match that either team could have won.

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