HARROGATE, Tenn. – WVWC tennis kicked off the 2022 season at Lincoln Memorial University this past weekend with both teams starting the season 2-1.
 
‘We had some key wins from our upperclassmen this weekend,” head coach Kyle Hoffman said. “This was a good weekend for us to battle some adversity and get rid of some nerves. It’s a long season, but we are thankful to start the season with some wins.”
 
Match #1 vs. Lincoln Memorial
Both teams fell against the Lincoln memorial on Friday, with the women dropping their contest 7-0. In doubles no.3, Rebecca Osborne and Madison Chen forced a tiebreak but could not upend the opposition.
 
In the men’s competition, the Railsplitters took the doubles point despite Camillo Salvi and Kihiro Karasawa winning their match at No. 1, 6-4. The ‘Cats were able to scrape out two points in singles, with Taylor Papworth winning in straight sets (6-2, 7-5) at No. 1 and Salvi winning at No. 2 (6-2, 6-3).
 
Match #2 vs. UVA-Wise
The women dropped the doubles point against UVA-Wise after losing at No. 1 and 2. Osborne and Chen were able to claim a 6-3 victory at No. 3 to tie the contest at one apiece, but UVA-Wise was able to persevere and win at No. 2.
 
In singles action, the Orange & Black found themselves down 2-0 after falling at No. 1. However, WVWC was able to rattle off five consecutive victories and claim the match 5-2. The Lady Bobcats did not drop a set in either of those matches.
 
The men claimed a decisive victory over UVA-Wise 6-0 in all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead. The Orange & Black won in straight sets in the first five singles matches. Patrick McGee, a late addition to the lineup, dropped his first set at No. 7. However, the junior college transfer would storm back in sets two and three to claim his first collegiate victory (2-6, 6-2, (10-4)).
 
Match #3 vs. Emory & Henry College
In the final match of the trip, both teams came out victorious, with the women starting with a 5-2 win against Emory & Henry College. WVWC swept the doubles matches to take a quick 1-0 lead. The Wasps were able to fight back and take two points of their own after wins in singles No. 1 and No. 3, but WVWC was able to sweep the remaining matches in straight sets to finish the result.
 
The men showed another convincing effort taking a 7-0 victory over the Wasps. With the doubles point already clinched, Salvi and Karasawa finished an exciting match at No. 1 with a 7-5 victory. WVWC showed similar success in singles sweeping all six matches while only dropping one set. Nicolas Zumba won his third set super tiebreaker 10-6 to finish off the 7-0 sweep for the ‘Cats.

Both teams will play again Friday against Salem in Vienna, W. Va.