Catamounts Host Samford for Second SoCon Match of 2025
Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's tennis returns to Southern Conference play as it hosts Samford on Sunday at Noon at the on-campus Catamount Athletics Complex.
The Catamounts (10-7, 0-1 SoCon) are amidst a four-game winning streak and most recently defended the home courts against NC A&T in a 6-1 victory on Friday. The Bulldogs (8-7, 1-0 SoCon) ride into Cullowhee having snapped a four-game slide on Saturday with a 4-3 league win at UNCG. Samford has dropped five of its last seven overall.
WCU is 2-15 all-time against the Bulldogs, though both of those wins have come in Cullowhee as the Catamounts claimed 4-3 victories in 2019 and most recently in 2023. Samford took last year's matchup in Birmingham 5-2 as the Catamounts took the doubles point and Jade Groen secured a victory on the second court in singles play.
Sunday's Tennis Matchup:
Western Carolina (10-7, 0-1 SoCon) vs Samford (8-7, 1-0 SoCon)
Noon | Catamount Athletic Complex | Cullowhee, N.C.
Players to Watch:
Jade Groen continues to march through the competition as the Catamount junior has compiled a 20-7 record in dual match play this season. She's 9-2 as the top seed in singles play and is 1-0 in solo matches against the Southern Conference after earning a three-set victory over Furman's Sara Snyder. Freshman Hokualohi Lui is the only other Catamount with a SoCon singles win under her belt as she claimed a 6-3, 6-2 sixth-court win against the Paladins.
After a relatively rocky start to the season, senior Angela Perez has solidly hit her stride, winning her last four singles matches. The four-match run is the second-longest of her career and trails only an outstanding 12-decision streak during her 13-4 2022 season. Perez is second on the team with nine singles wins this year, trailing only Jade Groen's 10.
Chloe Schwarz is enjoying a terrific season as well, going 7-1 in solo play as the third seed. She's won seven of her last nine decisions, with four going the distance. Isabella Sambola additionally looks to build off her most recent outing as the junior rallied for a three-set victory on the top court against NC A&T.
Only two Bulldogs have winning records in singles play with freshman Eleni Liakonis leading the team with an 8-2 mark. The Knoxville, Tenn. product has won on the third, fourth, and fifth courts this season – but is most successful as the third seed, where she has a 4-1 record. Sophomore Margaret Jaraczewski has a 7-6 overall record but is 5-3 as the second seed. Just behind Jaraczweski in terms of singles success is senior Emily Surcey who has a 6-6 record but is 0-5 on the top court in recent weeks.
Samford has been anchored in doubles play on the second and third courts by Margaret Jaraczewski & Hailey Troup and Eleni Liakons & Meredith Taylor, respectively. The Samford second-court duo is 6-2 in doubles play while the third-court Bulldogs have a 9-3 mark.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Southern Conference play is in full swing for the Catamounts as they host the UNCG and Chattanooga on back-to-back days next weekend. First serve with the Spartans is set for 2 p.m. on March 29, while play with the Mocs is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on March 30.
The Catamounts will then hit the road to take on the Mercer Bears on April 5 for an 11 a.m. start.
The Catamounts (10-7, 0-1 SoCon) are amidst a four-game winning streak and most recently defended the home courts against NC A&T in a 6-1 victory on Friday. The Bulldogs (8-7, 1-0 SoCon) ride into Cullowhee having snapped a four-game slide on Saturday with a 4-3 league win at UNCG. Samford has dropped five of its last seven overall.
WCU is 2-15 all-time against the Bulldogs, though both of those wins have come in Cullowhee as the Catamounts claimed 4-3 victories in 2019 and most recently in 2023. Samford took last year's matchup in Birmingham 5-2 as the Catamounts took the doubles point and Jade Groen secured a victory on the second court in singles play.
Sunday's Tennis Matchup:
Western Carolina (10-7, 0-1 SoCon) vs Samford (8-7, 1-0 SoCon)
Noon | Catamount Athletic Complex | Cullowhee, N.C.
Players to Watch:
Jade Groen continues to march through the competition as the Catamount junior has compiled a 20-7 record in dual match play this season. She's 9-2 as the top seed in singles play and is 1-0 in solo matches against the Southern Conference after earning a three-set victory over Furman's Sara Snyder. Freshman Hokualohi Lui is the only other Catamount with a SoCon singles win under her belt as she claimed a 6-3, 6-2 sixth-court win against the Paladins.
After a relatively rocky start to the season, senior Angela Perez has solidly hit her stride, winning her last four singles matches. The four-match run is the second-longest of her career and trails only an outstanding 12-decision streak during her 13-4 2022 season. Perez is second on the team with nine singles wins this year, trailing only Jade Groen's 10.
Chloe Schwarz is enjoying a terrific season as well, going 7-1 in solo play as the third seed. She's won seven of her last nine decisions, with four going the distance. Isabella Sambola additionally looks to build off her most recent outing as the junior rallied for a three-set victory on the top court against NC A&T.
Only two Bulldogs have winning records in singles play with freshman Eleni Liakonis leading the team with an 8-2 mark. The Knoxville, Tenn. product has won on the third, fourth, and fifth courts this season – but is most successful as the third seed, where she has a 4-1 record. Sophomore Margaret Jaraczewski has a 7-6 overall record but is 5-3 as the second seed. Just behind Jaraczweski in terms of singles success is senior Emily Surcey who has a 6-6 record but is 0-5 on the top court in recent weeks.
Samford has been anchored in doubles play on the second and third courts by Margaret Jaraczewski & Hailey Troup and Eleni Liakons & Meredith Taylor, respectively. The Samford second-court duo is 6-2 in doubles play while the third-court Bulldogs have a 9-3 mark.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Southern Conference play is in full swing for the Catamounts as they host the UNCG and Chattanooga on back-to-back days next weekend. First serve with the Spartans is set for 2 p.m. on March 29, while play with the Mocs is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on March 30.
The Catamounts will then hit the road to take on the Mercer Bears on April 5 for an 11 a.m. start.
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