Be Out Day was not the only thing happening on Wahnish Way. FAMU’s men and women’s tennis squads were busy sweeping traditional rivals Bethune Cookman.
The women defeated the Lady Wildcats 4-3, while the men won convincingly 6-1.
Doubles partners Dia Collins and Shavonne Thompson started the Rattlerettes off with an eight game pro-set 8-2 victory over Zora Gyoreova and Jessica Martin.
The FAMU duo had an easy time with their inexperienced opponents, talking and laughing during the match. Saturday marked a reunion of the two.
“See this is the first time in like two years me and Shavonne have played doubles together. I usually play with that girl over there,” said Collins referring to number one Rochelle Goldthreat playing on the next court.
The match was not so easy for game two players Rochelle Goldthreate and Charlene Kambarmi.
Goldthreate and Kambarami stayed neck in neck with their opponents until finally BCC’s Marta Kostrounova and partner Martina Tekalova won the match 8-5.
In between the doubles and singles matches Coach Carl Goodman said that it is tough to say what he expected from this match.
“BCC is a good team and they are the defending champions… we still have singles matches to play.”
Game three for the Rattlerettes went by the quickest.
Sahirah Williams and Amber Pipkins destroyed their opponents with a score of 8-0.
“Their (refering to BCC) number one, two and three are good and their four, five, and six are players are easy.” said Coach Goodman.
Williams also won her singles match by default over Shironda Trotter.
This is the last home game for the men’s tennis players.
The Rattlerettes will play at home on Friday, April 12 at noon against Savannah State.
The men also prevailed against defending champions BCC, winning six out of seven matches.
Issac Yarrell and La’Vaughn Munroe won their doubles match 4-3 retiring after the first set.
Noel Wadawu and and Pfungwa Mahefu defeated Martin Dimitrov and Malik Hall 8-3 and Lenin Mongerie and Kareem Bennett won their matches by default.
Yarrell, Munroe, Bennett, Mahefu and Wadawu all won their singles matches. FAMU will host the MEAC tennis championships April 18-29.