Berry tennis set to open conference play against Rhodes

Ben Prescott, Campus Carrier sports editor

Freshman Lacey Craig defeated her opponent from Covenant College, 6-2 and 6-2, in a singles match on March 24. Sophia Coon | Campus Carrier

The Berry Vikings men’s tennis team fell to the Covenant College Scots of the USA South conference by a score of 8-1 in Lookout Mountain, Ga on March 24.

In the line one singles match, freshman Noah Koch brought the Vikings their only win by nearly shutting out Ben Luke, with set scores of 6-0 and 6-1.

In the doubles matches, the line two and line three doubles teams kept the score close with the Scots. Juniors Kyle Lutian and Connor Murphy represented the line two team and ended the match with a score of 8-5. Sophomores Fant Smith and Carsten Balao for the line three doubles teams ended the doubles matches with a score of 8-6.

Even though the Vikings struggled in the match against Covenant, Murphy is looking to learn from it as a team.

Freshman Noah Koch, right, brought the men’s team their only win at the Covenant College match. Sophia Coon | Campus Carrier

“The Covenant match was definitely a tough one for the guys,” Murphy said. “But we’re young and still figuring out the best way to set up our doubles teams. Things won’t get any easier as we start conference play this weekend but I’m optimistic we can continue to grow and play some good tennis against some strong opponents moving forward.”

The Berry Vikings women’s tennis team nearly swept the Scots of the USA South conference by a score of 8-1 in Lookout Mountain, Ga on March 24.

Freshman Cathy Bukenya, practiced on Tuesday for the next match on Saturday at the Rome Tennis Center. The women’s tennis team currently holds a 5-3 record this season while the men overall are 2-7. Sophia Coon | Campus Carrier

All three of the doubles teams beat out the Scots, with final scores, in order of seed, being 8-2, 8-3 and 8-3.

The Vikings continued the momentum into the singles matches, with five out of the six matches resulting in a win. Sophomore Emma Kruger held her opponent to three total points in two sets, with freshman Lacey Craig holding her opponent to four points total in two sets.

Juliana Mascagni played in a close line one singles match that went into a tie breaker round, which ended in favor of the Scots.

In the singles competition, graduate student Kathryn Barker, sophomore Emma Kruger, freshmen Lauren Masteller, Lacey Craig and Ally Gray all beat their opponents. The pairs Barker and Gray, Kruger and sophomore Juliana Mascagni, and Craig and Gray also won their doubles matches.

Sophomore Elijah Gabriel, practiced on Tuesday for the next match on Saturday at the Rome Tennis Center. The women’s tennis team currently holds a 5-3 record this season while the men overall are 2-7. Sophia Coon | Campus Carrier

Looking ahead to conference play, Barker wants the team to carry their current momentum into future matches.

“Last week we had a solid win on the road versus Covenant,” Barker said. “We’ve been competing at a high level this season and are excited to continue building on that as we get into our conference matches this weekend at home.”

The Vikings are set to return on Saturday at home against in-conference foe, Rhodes College. The first match is set to begin at 10 a.m.