KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Lauryn John-Baptiste and Sasa Klanecek had a perfect outing on the first day of the Tennessee Fall Invitational as the two freshmen got wins as a duo and individually, Friday in Knoxville.
The freshmen teamed up in the afternoon session for a doubles match against Ballinger/Tynna of No. 3 Ohio State, and handled the Buckeye tandem, 8-2.
An hour later, John-Baptiste and Klanecek returned to the hardcourt for singles against women from the host school Tennessee.
John-Baptiste battled to a 7-5 first set win and then breezed to a sweep when she took the second set 6-3.
"I'm really happy to see Lauryn and Sasa pick up wins," associate head coach Matt Langley said. "Lauryn played very high-level tennis for periods of the match today and did a great job of closing out a good competitor that never went away."
Klanecek had a more arduous path to victory, going three sets with Johanna Silva but prevailing, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
"I was impressed with Lauryn and Sasa, our two freshmen," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "Lauryn took care of business, winning in straight sets, and Sasa really battled and won a very well-played and tough three-set match."
The other doubles duo for the Devils had a successful day as well, continuing a trend of dominating doubles play so far this fall.
Senior Nicole Fossa Huergo and sophomore Savannah Slaysman defeated Ohio State's Sneed/Sanford, 8-4. It was the Devils' first time as a pairing this season.
"We were really happy with the way we came out in doubles this afternoon," Langley said. "Both teams made good decisions and stayed disciplined with what we've been talking about in practice."
In singles play, Fossa Huergo dropped a two-set match to Ariadna Riley of Tennessee, and Slaysman fell in two sets as well to Sadie Hammond.
The Devils return to action Saturday morning against familiar faces from the Volunteer State in doubles play, then take on women from Wake Forest in singles play.
"It's a great event that we can learn a lot from," Langley said. "We look forward to competing against more quality players tomorrow."
Tennessee Fall Invitational | Knoxville, Tennessee | Oct. 27, 2017
Doubles
John-Baptiste/Klanecek def. Ballinger/Tynna (Ohio State): 8-2
Fossa Huergo/Slaysman def. Sneed/Sanford (Ohio State): 8-4
Singles
Sadie Hammond (UT) def. Savannah Slaysman: 6-1, 6-1
Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Nicole Fossa Huergo: 7-5, 6-2
Lauryn John-Baptiste def. Gabby Schuck (UT): 7-5, 6-3
Sasa Klanecek def. Johanna Silva (UT), 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
The freshmen teamed up in the afternoon session for a doubles match against Ballinger/Tynna of No. 3 Ohio State, and handled the Buckeye tandem, 8-2.
An hour later, John-Baptiste and Klanecek returned to the hardcourt for singles against women from the host school Tennessee.
John-Baptiste battled to a 7-5 first set win and then breezed to a sweep when she took the second set 6-3.
"I'm really happy to see Lauryn and Sasa pick up wins," associate head coach Matt Langley said. "Lauryn played very high-level tennis for periods of the match today and did a great job of closing out a good competitor that never went away."
Klanecek had a more arduous path to victory, going three sets with Johanna Silva but prevailing, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
"I was impressed with Lauryn and Sasa, our two freshmen," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "Lauryn took care of business, winning in straight sets, and Sasa really battled and won a very well-played and tough three-set match."
The other doubles duo for the Devils had a successful day as well, continuing a trend of dominating doubles play so far this fall.
Senior Nicole Fossa Huergo and sophomore Savannah Slaysman defeated Ohio State's Sneed/Sanford, 8-4. It was the Devils' first time as a pairing this season.
"We were really happy with the way we came out in doubles this afternoon," Langley said. "Both teams made good decisions and stayed disciplined with what we've been talking about in practice."
In singles play, Fossa Huergo dropped a two-set match to Ariadna Riley of Tennessee, and Slaysman fell in two sets as well to Sadie Hammond.
The Devils return to action Saturday morning against familiar faces from the Volunteer State in doubles play, then take on women from Wake Forest in singles play.
"It's a great event that we can learn a lot from," Langley said. "We look forward to competing against more quality players tomorrow."
Tennessee Fall Invitational | Knoxville, Tennessee | Oct. 27, 2017
Doubles
John-Baptiste/Klanecek def. Ballinger/Tynna (Ohio State): 8-2
Fossa Huergo/Slaysman def. Sneed/Sanford (Ohio State): 8-4
Singles
Sadie Hammond (UT) def. Savannah Slaysman: 6-1, 6-1
Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Nicole Fossa Huergo: 7-5, 6-2
Lauryn John-Baptiste def. Gabby Schuck (UT): 7-5, 6-3
Sasa Klanecek def. Johanna Silva (UT), 6-3, 5-7, 7-5