No. 12 Gulf Coast downs No. 20 NWCC

No. 12 Mississippi Gulf Coast handed No. 20 Northwest Mississippi its first loss of the women's tennis season, winning 8-1 over the Rangers in Senatobia.

The team scoreline was a bit deceiving, with a number of battles up and down the lineup.

"They had some tougher matches," Gulf Coast coach Sam Blackburn said. "Doubles was not easy, even though the scores look like they won easily. They were hard-fought one through three, but we really played well. The girls' energy and togetherness were prioritized by them."

Gulf Coast improved to 6-0 overall, 5-0 in MACCC play. Northwest is 6-1, 3-1.

Danique Vermue (So., 's-Heerenhoek, Netherlands/Scheldemon College) and Valeria Callejo-Vivar (So., Madrid, Spain/I.E.S. Ortega y Gasset) only dropped one game on the way to winning No. 1 doubles, as did Isona Arnaus (Fr., Barcelona, Spain/Centre Lopez Vicuna) and Lauren Sullivan (So., Laurel/Laurel Christian) at No. 2.

Dallas Tanner (So., Hattiesburg/Oak Grove) and Karla Bethea (So., Edwards/Homeschool) gutted out an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles.

Tanner won her No. 5 singles match 6-2, 6-1, and Sullivan won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 4.

"Everybody played well," Blackburn said. "Northwest brought it, and there were some tougher moments. Without a doubt, we stepped up as well. They handled themselves well."

The Bulldogs make another trip up north next week, facing Itawamba at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Results

Team: Gulf Coast 8, Northwest 1

Doubles

No. 1: Danique Vermue-Valeria Callejo-Vivar (GC) def. Macarena Arisio-Laura Camara Blanco, 8-1

No. 2: Isona Arnaus-Lauren Sullivan (GC) def. Mattie Sanders-Claudia Lopez Chaparro, 8-1

No. 3: Dallas Tanner-Karla Bethea (GC) def. Meg Daves-Allie Rawles 8-5

Singles

No. 1: Vermue (GC) def. Arisio, 6-2, 6-4

No. 2: Callejo-Vivar (GC) def. Camara, 6-4, 6-4

No. 3: Arnaus (GC) def. Camaro Blanco, 6-2, 6-3

No. 4: Sullivan (GC) def. Sanders, 6-0, 6-3

No. 5: Tanner (GC) def. Daves, 6-2, 6-1

No. 6: Rawles (NW) def. Bethea, 6-4, 2-6, 10-8

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