Women’s tennis faced a tough three-match stretch this past week, competing in back-to-back contests before closing at home.
Ferrum opened the week on the road in Florence, SC, where the Panthers dropped a 7-0 Conference Carolinas match to Francis Marion University. The Patriots took early control by sweeping the doubles point, including a pair of wins at No. 1 and No. 2, along with a forfeit at No. 3.
In singles play, Ferrum battled but could not break through as Francis Marion claimed all six flights. Stephanie Porras, first-year, delivered one of the strongest performances of the day at No. 2 singles, pushing F. Hernandez Huerta to a deciding super tiebreak after taking the opening set. Bianca Solorzano, first-year, also competed closely at No. 1, falling in straight sets, while Hannah Huffman, grad student; Olivia Eisenman, first-year; and Chloe Smith; first-year, rounded out the lineup in singles action.
The Panthers returned home to face Johnson C. Smith University at Franklin County Recreation Park, where they fell 4-0 in non-conference play. The Golden Bulls secured the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 before carrying that momentum into singles.
Solorzano showed out at No. 1 singles, dropping a first set before falling in two. Huffman and Smith competed at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, while matches featuring Porras and Eisenman at No. 2 and No. 4 were left unfinished once the Golden Bulls clinched the match.
Ferrum closed the week at home against Roanoke College, where the Panthers came closest to a breakthrough in a narrow 4-3 loss. Roanoke claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2, along with a forfeit at No. 3, to take an early lead.
The Panthers responded with strong play in singles. Solorzano and Porras each earned straight-set victories at No. 1 and No. 2, while Eisenman battled through a three-set match at No. 4 to secure another point for Ferrum. Despite those efforts, Roanoke claimed the match with a win at No. 3 and forfeits at No. 5 and No. 6.
The Lady Panthers will have a chance of redemption today at 2 p.m. at King University.
