Baacke and del Mar Sarda Marti win the Flight B Championship on third day of the ITA Regional
The pairing caps off a competitive weekend for Carson-Newman women's tennis
SUMTER, S.C. – Maria del Mar Sarda Marti and Kira Baacke wrapped up the third day of the ITA Southeast Regional, winning the Flight B Championship in the women's doubles bracket.
"I'm so incredibly proud of Kira and Mar. They stuck with each other, communicated extremely well and always stayed positive," head tennis coach Nathan Gangelhoff said of their performance. "They played so well this weekend, and I know they can get even better. The best is yet to come for them."
The Championship match began at 9 a.m. against Bera Castello and Irina Furtuna from Middle Georgia State College. It was a foggy morning, but Carson-Newman's pair was more than up to the challenge, concluding their charge with an 8-5 win to stand alone.
"It was one of the best college experiences I've had so far. We pushed each other to play our best, but also supported each other the whole way," Baacke said following the win. "Competing as a team made the weekend even more special because every win felt like something we achieved together. I'm very thankful for my team and for the support on and off the court."
It is always a tense moment preparing for a championship, but both players bring a similar mindset by staying in the moment.
"During a championship match, I try to stay calm and composed by focusing on my breathing and taking things one point at a time," Mar said. "It's important to stay present and not get too caught up in the pressure."
Having the Mar, an All-SAC performer last year, made life easier for the sophomore Baacke.
"I stay calm by focusing on one point at a time, I try not to think about the score," Baacke said. "I have great confidence in Mar and in myself, which helps me play with so much confidence."
The duo won their first-round match, 8-2, over North Georgia's Emily Bush and Sofia Giraldo. On Saturday, they kept the good vibes rolling, motoring all the way to the Championship match.
"There's no better feeling in tennis than advancing round to round and beating seeded players," Baacke said. "I'm very happy and proud of us that we were ultimately able to win the final."
They started in the afternoon with an 8-6 victory against Yuki Suzuki and Margarita Roshka from Newberry. Then later, they won 8-4 against Middle Georgia State College's Yana Prihach and Tamanna Takoria.
As a veteran del Mar Sarda Marti felt more than comfortable participating in past ITA Regionals.
"The competition at ITA's Regionals was fierce, but I stayed focused and gave it my all," Mar said on performing this weekend. "Having played in this tournament in past years, I knew what to expect and was ready to face anything. I also made sure to stay happy and enjoy every moment, especially during my senior year."
Mar continued sharing her love for her teammates who weren't in attendance and for her family back in Spain.
"Even though not all my teammates were there, I know their presence was there, all the messages before and after the match helped me a lot," Mar said. "Also, my family was watching from Spain, supporting me from very. I am here because of them, if not, I wouldn't be playing in this amazing tournament. I'm so grateful to share it with them."
The senior knows her days are counting down in Mossy Creek, but she is gearing up to finish her career on a high note.
"It's bittersweet knowing this chapter is coming to an end, but I'm also incredibly grateful for every moment I've had on the court," Mar said. "The memories, the friendships and the lessons will stay with me forever. I'm making sure to have fun and soak it all in, appreciating every match and practice. It's been an amazing ride, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
