By: Jake Miller
HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker women's tennis will take on a full slate this weekend (Sat. Apr. 8-Sun. Apr. 9) when they host Wingate and Queens in South Atlantic Conference action.
Coker defeated Mars Hill on the road 5-4 back on Tuesday (Apr. 4) for a key conference win. The Cobras led 2-1 after doubles play, with Jennifer Ruetten and Julia Sorrells winning at 8-4 at No. 2. Suzanna Mickey and Sarah Elliott earned an identical 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles to put Coker ahead going to singles play. Ruetten won in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) at No. 1 singles, while Jennifer Mezei won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2. Mars Hill won three singles matches in a row to tie the match at four apiece, before Sarah Elliott earned a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 6 to seal the match for the Cobras.
Elliot has a team-high seven singles wins on the year, while Jenna Gainey teamed up with Sorrels has four doubles wins on the year, and two wins in conference. The tandem of Mickey and Elliott also has four wins on the year, with three coming within the SAC.
Wingate comes into the match 12-2 overall and also with a perfect 8-0 mark in league play. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 33 nationally and also fifth in the Southeast region. Wingate has three players with double-digit singles wins, including Layla Tanik who is unbeaten on the season at 13-0, with eight SAC wins. The doubles team of Maria Garcia and Oroma Womeodu has a team-high 10 wins, with five of them in South Atlantic Conference action.
Queens enters the weekend 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the conference. The Royals are ranked No. 50 in the nation and also 10th in the Southeast region. Queens has two players with double-digit singles wins and two doubles tandems with a team-high four wins each.
First serve for both matches is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Coker Tennis Courts.