HARROGATE, TENN — The UVA Wise women's tennis team wasn't able to squeeze out a win in their match against the University of Pikeville Bears on Sunday, Feb. 6.

Leading the Cavaliers in the duals was L. Akimenko and Moore, who took an easy 6-1 win against Bears Guacanes and Sara Contreras. 

In the second dual match, K. Akimenko was placed with Hupperten to face Hurtado and Diaz. The Bears duo just barely snuck by K. Akimenko and Hupperten with a 7-6 score, but was forced to a second tiebreaker set. The Bears were victorious in the tiebreaker, winning 7-2.

In the final dual matchup of the day, Cavaliers Hall and Nichols faced Agudelo and Mullins. In the same outcome as the previous match, each side was forced to a tiebreaker set. In the finale, Agudelo and Mullins walked away with a tight 7-5 win — giving the Bears a 1-0 overall lead.
 

In singles play, Liza Akimenko started off the UVA Wise effort with a quick 6-2, 6-0 win over Pikeville's Gabi Guacanes. Katya Akimenko followed suit, snagging back-to-back set wins by scores of 6-1. 

It was the third matchup that changed tide in Pikeville's direction. Andrea Hurtado of the Bears came out with a bang, defeating Cavalier Anna Hupperten 6-0 and 6-1, giving the Bears their first win. Luisa Diaz also took down her Cavalier opponent Sarah Moore in 6-1, 6-4 scores. 

Emily Conn came into the mix in the no. 5 spot, and was taken down by Camila Agudelo in the first set by a score of 6-4. Conn had other plans in the next set, fighting hard and snagging the win 6-3 and forcing a third set. With both sides battling, Conn was able to take the W for the Cavaliers by a final set score of 10-5.

In the last singles matchup, Sara Nichols couldn't hold up against Pikeville's Riley Mullins and lost both sets by scores of 6-3.

Mullins' last win gave the Bears the overall win by a final score of 4-3.

Next, the Cavaliers will head to the University of Lynchburg to face the Hornets on Saturday, Feb 12 at 2:00 PM.