HARROGATE, Tenn. – The UVa-Wise women's tennis team was handed an 8-1 loss on the road Sunday afternoon in its spring opener at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. The Cavaliers (8-9) returned to competition and dual match play for the first time since October and took a doubles match off of the host Railsplitters (5-1).
 
After doubles play, UVa-Wise found themselves down 2-1 but pulled off an upset at the top doubles spot as junior Daria Tyshchenko (Kirovograd, Ukraine) and freshman Aya Melhem (Rockvale, Tenn.) topped Priscilla Bulandres and Kiersten Waugh of Lincoln Memorial. Freshman Taylor Carter (Church Hill, Tenn.) and sophomore Mackenzie Lawson (Wise, Va.) took four games off of the Railsplitters' Julia Loos and Johanna Delisse but fell 8-4 at No. 2 doubles. At the third doubles position, Marta Pinol and Roksolana Prudyvus of Lincoln Memorial defeated junior Serena Burgess (Dumfries, Va.) and freshman Carlysle Funk (Coeburn, Va.), 8-1.
 
Singles play proved to be a bit tougher for the Cavs as nobody was able to win more than three games off of their opponent. Burgess dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision at No. 5 singles to the Railsplitters' Angelica Solano as Carter was handed a 6-2, 6-0 loss at the third spot by Prudyvus of LMU. Both Tyshchenko and Lawson were only able to claim one game in each of their matches with the Railsplitters' Delisse defeating Tyshchenko 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and Javiera Gonzelez of LMU besting Lawson, 6-0, 6-1, at the fourth position. Melhem was shutout by the Railsplitters' Pinol at the second spot, while sophomore Montana Hill (Riner, Va.) was likewise shutout at No. 6 singles by Rosa Smith of LMU.
 
The Cavs will have six days off from competition before hosting Davis & Elkins College for UVa-Wise's spring home opener at the Jim and Betty Humphreys Tennis Complex. First serve is slated for 10 a.m. with the men's team also taking on the Senators.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier women's tennis news, statistics, complete schedule and more.
 
Full Match Results
Lincoln Memorial 8, UVa-Wise 1
 
Singles
1. Johanna Delisse (LMU) def. Daria Tyshchenko (WISE) 6-1, 6-0
2. Marta Pinol (LMU) def. Aya Melhem (WISE) 6-0, 6-0
3. Roksolana Prudyvus (LMU) def. Taylor Carter (WISE) 6-2, 6-0
4. Javiera Gonzalez (LMU) def. Mackenzie Lawson (WISE) 6-0, 6-1
5. Angelica Solano (LMU) def. Serena Burgess (WISE) 6-1, 6-2
6. Rosa Smith (LMU) def. Montana Hill (WISE) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. Daria Tyshchenko/Aya Melhem (WISE) def. Priscilla Bulandres/Kiersten Waugh (LMU) 8-6
2. Julia Loos/Johanna Delisse (LMU) def. Taylor Carter/Mackenzie Lawson (WISE) 8-4
3. Marta Pinol/Roksolana Prudyvus (LMU) def. Serena Burgess/Carlysle Funk (WISE) 8-1