KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Bellarmine women's tennis team faced a pair of tough opponents on Friday, and the Knights fell by a final score of 4-0 to both Charlotte and Tennessee in Knoxville.
 
"Against Charlotte we came out slow," Knights Head Coach Brian Slack said. "Charlotte is a talented team from top to bottom. They took it to us in doubles. We turned things around in singles and competed well. Kat and Hanley played well in singles and were up a set when the match was clinched."
 
After securing the doubles point, Lucia Quiterio, Lucia Aranda, and Maddie Brown claimed victories at no. 2, no. 4, and no. 6 singles respectively to lock up the team win.  Hanley Riner led by one set (7-6) over Emma van Poppel, while Ekaterina Tikhonko held a one set lead (7-5) over Ruxi Schech when the match finished. 
 
No. 24 Tennessee posed an even taller task as a ranked opponent on its home court. 
 
"Against Tennessee, we competed well," Slack added.  "We played smarter in doubles, but they are ranked top-25 for a reason. Channing really played a nice first set. It's a quick turnaround to play a gritty NKU team tomorrow afternoon at home."
 
Despite losing the doubles point, Lailaa Bashir and Shu Grosso held a 4-1 lead in their unfinished no. 2 doubles match.
 
Singles wins from Eleonora Molinaro, Lauren Anzalotta, and Leyla Britez Risso clinched the win for Tennessee.  Channing Varnum nabbed the first set of her no. 6 singles match 6-2 over Ashtin Hara, but their battle went unfinished.

The Knights host Northern Kentucky tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. inside the Eddie Weber Tennis Complex.

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