Trio of Eagles to bid farewell as Tusculum comes to town for Senior Day
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.? A trio of Carson-Newman seniors will suit up for the final time at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex when the Eagles play host to arch-rival Tusculum for its final South Atlantic Conference match of the regular season Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
VIDEO: Jean Love Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.— A trio of Carson-Newman seniors will suit up for the final time at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex when the Eagles play host to arch-rival Tusculum for its final South Atlantic Conference match of the regular season Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
"Patricia [Gurreiro], Brooke [Sanderson] and Haleigh [Chastain] are really solid students and very motivated without anyone pushing them to be that," coach Jean Love said. "They have set goals for themselves and have accomplished those goals during their time at Carson-Newman. We are really going to miss the quality of people that they are."
The match will serve as a major indicator regarding whether or not Carson-Newman (13-5, 5-5) punches its ticket into the SAC tournament that is set to begin on April 21.
The Eagles currently sit as the sixth-best team in the league and will likely need to upset Tusculum (17-3, 8-1 SAC) on Tuesday to avoid missing out on postseason play.
The Pioneers are on a six-match winning streak and have not lost since dropping a 0-7 decision to Division I's Western Carolina on March 30. Tusculum's lone conference loss of the season came against Wingate 4-5 on March 18.
Slated third in the league by the SAC prior to the start of the spring season, Tusculum sits second behind the Bulldogs in the league and showcase four preseason All-SAC picks.
After picking up 14 wins in the '15 season a year ago, Franziska Funke and Amanda Sumner are representatives on the league's first team for doubles play. The duo have already accumulated 11 victories so far on the season. Funke was also named to the second team's singles round after another 14 wins last season and has come out on top 18 times already on the year.
The Pioneers also claimed two first-teamers in the preseason poll in Kealee Heffner and Erin Mills. Heffner finished her junior campaign posting 13 wins with 10 to date this season while Mills had a team-high 16 singles wins a year ago with 16 wins again so far this season.
Tusculum is comprised with an abundant of upperclassmen for the 2016 season. The roster includes five seniors and only one junior, sophomore and freshman.
"We have to come out strong in doubles. If we can come out and score a point or two on either side of the doubles, that will give us a chance," Love said. "For us to do that, we must play good-percentage tennis and not make a lot of unforced errors. There have been times this year when we have done that and there has also been times when we have not. That is what we are looking to do."
Patricia Guerreiro (Fernao-Ferro, Portugal), Brooke Sanderson (Evans, Ga.) and Haleigh Chastain (Knoxville, Tenn.) will also be celebrating their Senior Day on the afternoon.
Coming into the final home match of the season, Guerreiro owns four-year stint record with the Eagles of 39-29 in singles and 44-30 doubles mark while competing in the top-half of the lineup in each year.
The senior was tabbed SAC Honorable Mention for her part in doubles play a season ago as she, along with former Eagle Jennifer Ott, compiled a 15-2 doubles record on the year. Guerreiro kept the momentum alive in the early portion of the 2016 campaign as the Fernao-Ferro, Portugal native began the season with 10-consecutive wins in singles play.
"Patricia since day one has played towards the top part of our lineup. She is just a tremendous competitor," Love said. "I don't know that I have been around any other athlete that is as of tough a competitor, not matter what the situation is. She competes until the last point."
Sanderson has also seen significant action throughout her career in Mossy Creek that dates back to a career-best freshman campaign which saw the Evans, Ga. native compile an 11-7 record in the back-end of the lineup. The senior has seen action at every spot in both singles and doubles and has a career record of 63 wins amongst the two to date.
"Brooke is real fiery and we are going to really miss that fire in matches in the future," Love said. "For Patricia and Haleigh, the fire is more on the inside. It is always tough to lose students to graduation that you have gotten to know and love over four years and had the opportunity to be a part of their lives. They are great people to be around and have really contributed to this program."
Chastain has serviced time at every position excluding the leadoff spot for Carson-Newman during her tenure. A career-high of eight wins in each of her first two seasons on campus has paved the way for Chastain to accumulate 30 wins thus far with only two-guaranteed matches remaining.
A complete recap can be found at cneagles.com following Tuesday's match against Tusculum.
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