LAS VEGAS – The IUPUI women’s tennis team opened Summit League play Thursday afternoon at Bally’s Resort against Southern Utah and the Thunderbirds took a tough doubles point, which proved to be the difference as the Jags fell to the Tbirds, 4-3.

The loss dropped IUPUI to 3-12 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.

Southern Utah claimed the doubles point sweeping the No. 1 and No. 2 matches by tight margins to claim the 1-0 lead.

The score was quickly knotted as Vanessa Whyte defeated her opponent by identical 6-0 scores to get the Jags on the board.

The Thunderbirds responded with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions to close within a point of picking up the victory, but Abbey Neff scored a win at the No. 5 spot when her opponent retired making the score 3-2.

With Jesika Bays earning a win by default at the No. 6 spot, it came down to the No. 3 match between Shelby Hullett and Olia Tatarchenko. Unfortunately for IUPUI, Tatarchenko defeated Hullett 6-1,6-2 to earn the 4-3 victory for Southern Utah.

IUPUI has two matches on Friday, March 16, when it squares off against UMKC and South Dakota.

IUPUI vs Southern Utah
Mar 15, 2012 at Las Vegas, Nev.
(Bally's Resort)
 
Southern Utah 4, IUPUI 3
 
Singles competition
1. Ksusha Johnson (SUU) def. Danielle Haefele (IUPUIW) 6-0, 6-3
2. Alex Ivanova (SUU) def. Alisha Cummings (IUPUIW) 6-2, 6-3
3. Olia Tatarchenko (SUU) def. Shelby Hullett (IUPUIW) 6-1, 6-2
4. Vanessa Whyte (IUPUIW) def. Afton Staheli (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Abbey Neff (IUPUIW) def. Lisa Pleskan (SUU) 1-4, retired
6. Jeskia Bays (IUPUIW) def. No player (SUU), by default
 
Doubles competition
1. Olia Tatarchenko/Alex Ivanova (SUU) def. Rachael Bridegroom/Shelby Hullett (IUPUIW) 8-5
2. Ksusha Johnson/Lisa Pleskan (SUU) def. Vanessa Whyte/Abbey Neff (IUPUIW) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Alisha Cummings/Danielle Haefele (IUPUIW) def. No player/No player (SUU), by default
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,1,2,5,3)
Official: Clay Boone