HARROGATE, TENN. — The UVA Wise women's tennis team dropped a tough match against No. 11-ranked Queens (UC) on Saturday, April 16, falling 6-1.
The tennis team honored their four seniors at the match — Liza Akimenko, Katya Akimenko, Grace Hall, and Lillian Morris.
K. Akimenko, from Donetsk, Ukraine, began her career as a Highland Cavalier holding several conference and state accolades. In 2018, K. Akimenko was named to all-MEC Second Team as a freshman and was on Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State Second Team in Doubles as a sophomore.
In her last season thus far, she has snagged two singles match wins (Roanoke, Lynchburg) and has snagged 15 doubles wins to date.
L. Akimenko, from Donetsk, Ukraine, began her career as a Highland Cavalier in a similar way as her her sister — with many honors from the state and the conference.
In 2018, L. Akimenko was named to Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State First Team Singles and the all-conference team. The next year, she was named to Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State Second Team Doubles, Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State Second Team Singles and UVA Wise Athletics Co-Freshman of the Year.
Like her sister, L. Akimenko is no stranger to match wins. She has tabbed an impressive 14 overall singles wins and 17 doubles wins.
Hall, hailing from Fredericksburg, Va., has been a Highland Cavalier since 2018. Notably in her career, the senior finished with a 4-5 singles record and a 5-4 doubles record, winning 2 shutout singles victories in 2019-20.
Thus far in her senior season, Hall has won five singles matches and four doubles matchups.
Final senior Lillian Morris is from Stanardsville, Va. In her tennis career, Morris has produced 8 personal victories in both the MEC and the SAC. This season, the senior grabbed a win against Catawba on April 14, 2022.
In their final conference match of the season, K. And L. Akimenko grabbed their 10th conference doubles win on the season as they took down Viktoija Veselinova and Emma Hidalgo by a 6-2 score. The rest of doubles play was claimed by the Royals by 6-3 and 6-1 scores.
In singles play, L. Akimenko grabbed another win by defeating Veselinova by 6-2, 6-0 scores.
Queens then went on to grab six more scoreless face-offs, and took wins from K. Akimenko, Anna Hupperten, Sarah Moore, Grace Hall, and Lillian Morris.
The Cavs next play Bluefield State as their last home match on Sunday, April 24 at 4:00 PM.
