Women's Tennis | March 23, 2022

CLARKSVILLE – With one match remaining until Ohio Valley Conference action begins, Austin Peay State University women's tennis team faces the University of the Cumberlands in a 1 p.m., Thursday match at the UC Tennis Complex in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

The Governors (3-5) have won their last three matches and are coming off their second-straight sweep after defeating McKendree, 7-0, March 15 in Clarksville.

In singles, the Govs have been led by consistent play from Martina Paladini-Jennings and freshman Denise Torrealba. The pair has won five singles matches each, while Torrealba is on a team-best four-match winning streak dating back to the Govs' Feb. 20 contest against Kentucky.

Torrealba and senior Honoka Nakanishi headline the Govs' doubles pairings with four wins this spring, including a 2-0 mark from the No. 1 position. Paladini-Jennings and freshman Yu-Hua Cheng also have won a quartet of matches together, winning three of their last four matches while playing exclusively on the No. 3 court.

The University of the Cumberlands (11-4) has won four of its last five matches and is coming off its first regular-season loss to a Mid-South Conference opponent since March 23, 2019, after dropping a 5-2 decision against Lindsey Wilson, March 15. 

The Patriots won the MSC Regular Season Championship last season after finishing with a 10-0 mark, but they fell to Lindsey Wilson, 4-2 in the MSC Championship match.

The Patriots return nine players from last season's team that advanced to the second round of the NAIA Championship, including Tomomi Nagao, the No. 13 player in the NAIA National Singles Rankings who is 13-0 in singles from the No. 1 position.

Nagao and Mikaela Fros highlight the Patriots' doubles pairings. The No. 17 pairing in the NAIA National Rankings is 9-6 on the season while playing exclusively from the No. 1 position.

Up Next

The Governors begin their final conference season as a member of the OVC in an 11 a.m. April 2 match against Belmont at the Belmont Tennis Complex in Nashville.

Scouting the Patriots

2022 Record: 11-4 (2-1 Mid-South)

2021 Record: 20-4 (10-0 Mid-South)

2021 Season Result: After falling to Lindsey Wilson, 4-2, in the MSC Championship match, the Patriots defeated Indiana Tech, 5-2, in the first round of the NAIA Tennis Championship before having their season end after a 4-0 loss to Keiser in the second round of the tournament.

Returners/Newcomers: 9/6

All-Time Series: 0-0

Last Meeting: First-ever meeting

Follow the Govs on Social

For news and updates ahead of the Governors' match against the University of the Cumberlands, follow the women's tennis team on team on Twitter (@GovsWTN), Instagram (@GovsTennis) and Facebook (Austin Peay Tennis).