The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team gutted out a 4-3 win over Air Force in Knoxville, Tenn., today. The Mocs split two duals on their trip, falling 4-0 at Tennessee in the second match.
The Air Force bout was full of drama in both singles and doubles action. It came down to a three-setter at No. 5 singles that senior Rachele Gazzola won in a comeback.
She dropped her first set 6-1 to Nadeen Lieberman, and barely stayed alive with a 7-5 win in the second.
With the team score tied a three, Gazzola posted a 6-3 win in the third to earn a court-rushing celebration from her teammates.
"This is a great win for our program," stated UTC head coach Chad Camper. "Air Force is very strong and has amazing doubles.
"This win improved the team, not only on the court, but also mentally. I couldn't be more proud! Watching Rachele clinch the match and the women run out and jump on her was an amazing moment."
Gazzola and senior Samantha Caswell opened the day with a 6-0 win in doubles over Jocelle Rudico and Chloe Forlini. Air Force evened doubles with a win at No. 2, but sophomores McKenzie Barco and Carolina Hall clinched the point by winning at No. 3 in a tiebreaker [7-6 (2)].
Caswell put the Mocs up 2-0 with a straight-set win at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Sydney Patton made it 3-0 with a win at No. 4 over Lily Forlini. Patton needed tiebreakers in both sets to post the win [7-6 (6), 7-6 (2)]. Air Force stormed back with wins at No. 2, No. 6 and No. 3, before Gazzola won the dual at No. 5.
Chattanooga 4, Air Force 3
Jan 22, 2017 at Knoxville, Tenn. (Goodfriend Tennis Center)
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Caswell/Rachele Gazzola (UTC) def. Jocelle Rudico/Chloe Forlini (AFA) 6-0
2. Elizabeth Barnickel/TJ Fumagalli (AFA) def. Sydney Patton/Delaney Edwards (UTC) 7-5
3. Mckenzie Barco/Caroline Hall (UTC) def. Lily Forlini/Nadeen Lieberman (AFA) 7-6 (7-2)
Singles competition
1. Samantha Caswell (UTC) def. Chloe Forlini (AFA) 6-4, 6-3
2. Elizabeth Barnickel (AFA) def. Delaney Edwards (UTC) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
3. TJ Fumagalli (AFA) def. Caroline Hall (UTC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Sydney Patton (UTC) def. Lily Forlini (AFA) 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2)
5. Rachele Gazzola (UTC) def. Nadeen Lieberman (AFA) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
6. Jocelle Rudico (AFA) def. Mckenzie Barco (UTC) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
The Mocs were back on the court later in the evening, taking on Tennessee. The Vols won the first four points to clinch the dual, but UTC was competitive in the three matches that did not finish.
Caswell won the first set in a tiebreaker against No. 64 Brittany Lindl [7-6 (3)] and Hall had barely dropped a 7-5 opening set in her match at No. 4. Patton had also evened her match with a second-set win at No. 3.
The Mocs are back home next weekend, hosting Kennesaw State on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) at McCallie's Strang-Voges Tennis Center. A link for live scoring is available on the women's tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com.
Tennessee 4, Chattanooga 0
Jan 22, 2017 at Knoxville, Tenn. (Goodfriend Tennis Center)
Doubles competition
1. Brittany Lindl/Eve Repic (UT) vs. Samantha Caswell/Rachele Gazzola (UTC) unfinished
2. Sadie Hammond/Gabby Schuck (UT) def. Delaney Edwards/Sydney Patton (UTC) 6-1
3. Ariadna Riley/Kim Kermet (UT) def. Mckenzie Barco/Caroline Hall (UTC) 6-0
Singles competition
1. #64 Brittany Lindl (UT) vs. Samantha Caswell (UTC) 6-7 (3-7), unfinished
2. Sadie Hammond (UT) def. Delaney Edwards (UTC) 6-1, 6-0
3. Kim Kermet (UT) vs. Sydney Patton (UTC) 6-1, 4-6, unfinished
4. Johanna Silva (UT) vs. Caroline Hall (UTC) 7-5, unfinished
5. Gabby Schuck (UT) def. Rachele Gazzola (UTC) 6-0, 6-4
6. Ashley Bongart (UT) def. Mckenzie Barco (UTC) 6-2, 6-3