The No. 1-ranked NCAA Division III Emory women’s tennis team came into the weekend undefeated on the season with two matches against DePauw University (Ind.) and No. 22-ranked Washington and Lee University (Va.). The Eagles cruised to 9-0 victories against both teams to improve their record to a perfect 12-0.
During the Eagles’ victories, senior Daniela Lopez and freshman Emma Cartledge led the way with a pair of straight-set wins in singles. Lopez won her first singles match against DePauw 6-1, 6-2 before defeating her second singles opponent from Washington and Lee 6-2, 6-0. Cartledge played second singles against DePauw and won 6-2, 6-1 before posting a 6-3, 6-1 win at fourth singles against Washington and Lee. Lopez and Cartledge teamed up during doubles matches; the pair handled their DePauw opponents 8-0 and their Washington and Lee opponents 8-5.
Lopez, as the lone senior, was honored on Senior Day on March 30 for her incredible four-year career with the program. She was also named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Women’s Tennis Co-Athlete of the Week for her incredible performances against DePauw and Washington and Lee. This is the fourth time of Lopez’s career that she was named UAA Athlete of the Week.
Sophomore Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico also played a big part in the Eagles’ victory over Washington and Lee, as she convincingly won her first singles match 6-2, 6-1. For Gonzalez-Rico, this singles victory marked her team-leading 20th singles victory of the year.
Head Coach Amy Bryant commended the team’s performances this weekend.
“Overall, we are functioning as a great team unit,” Bryant said. “Everyone is stepping up when they need to.”
Over the course of the weekend, the Eagles won all six doubles matches and 11 out of 12 singles matches in straight sets.
Emory will travel this coming weekend for matchups against No. 7-ranked Tufts University (Mass.) on April 5 and No. 5-ranked Middlebury College (Vt.) on April 7.
