“It felt awesome to open conference with a win and I couldn't be happier for the team,” said head coach Chloe Murphy. "To be seeing what they've been working on in practice pay off and see their confidence growing match by match, as a coach it's great to see them start to believe in themselves as much as I do."
"I couldn't be happier with the performance. As always, there are things we can work on and things we will improve on, but the ladies came out and fought hard on every court, the energy and grit they showed today was first class."
“It felt so good because we worked so hard and so much for this big win in the first match of conference,” said sophomore Carlota “Carly” Gascon Martinez.
Doubles would get underway in the Manatees favor as the duo of #4 Gascon Martinez and sophomore Kia Carvalho-Landell (2-0) defeated sophomore Kayla Greco and freshman Kanna Kobayakawa 8-3 at No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Lou De Freitas Bonet and freshman Saku Suzuki would follow with an 8-2 win against the freshman duo of Simona Karlsson and Luisa Renovales at No. 2 doubles before the sophomore duo of #17 Luna Mouton and Sarah Forsyth completed the sweep as they defeated the freshman duo of Paige Noble Lucas and Dana Bryan 8-6 at No. 3 doubles to make the score 3-0 SCF. All three doubles pairs are now 2-0.
With singles play underway and the Manatees only needing to win of them, Forsyth would win the first match over Lucas via retire at No. 4 singles before freshman Jessica Bustamante sealed the winner by defeating Bryan 6-2, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.
Singles play continued as #30 Carvalho-Landell defeated Karlsson 6-4, 7-5 at No. 3 singles before Suzuki defeated Renovales 2-6, 6-0, 11-9 in three sets at No. 5 singles and #12 De Freitas Bonet defeated Greco 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
Gascon Martinez, who is ranked #33 in the nation, would finish with her toughest matchup as she finished her match against Kobayakawa at No. 1 singles as she won in three sets of 7-5, 6-7, 10-5.
"I am really happy about my match,” said Gascon Martinez. “It could have been better, but I am happy for the win at the #1 singles position and in the first match of conference. Coach Chloe has helped me a lot during the second set and the 10 point tie break.”
For Gascon Martinez, it was also a little nerve racking moment for her as she transferred from Eastern Florida and playing against them did have some setbacks.
“I was really nervous playing,” said Gascon Martinez. “I just wanted to win and show my teammates why I’m here.”
"It's always an awkward situation to go back and play against your old team," said Murphy on Gascon Martinez's situation. "Carly handled the nerves excellently. It was a big day for her mentally and I'm so proud of her."
Up Next:
The Manatees will have another scrimmage against Flagler College (NCAA DII) Tuesday, February 15 before they travel to Tampa to take on Hillsborough CC Friday, February 18 at 12 pm.
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