MACOMB, Ill. – A huge win at an important point in the season, the IUPUI women's tennis team (3-14, 2-1) went on the road and took care of business against Western Illinois (6-12, 0-1) Friday (March 31), defeating the Leathernecks 5-2 to pick up their second victory against a league opponent.
A critical step in their journey to return to the Summit League Tournament, the Jags began the afternoon by sealing the doubles point with a sweep of their western foes.
Sara Sherif and
Samantha Mayer had the toughest battle at the No. 1 spot, finding enough late to oust their opponents in a 7-6 set. The tie-breaker went in favor of the Jags, 7-3. The victory is the duo's fifth of the dual-meet season, as the pair improved to 5-6 overall.
Valeriia Lavrenchuk and
Mariella Pessina are just behind them at 4-6, as the two combined for a 6-2 victor at the second spot, dropping Natalia Bravo and Laura Ballesteros. Capping off the winning ways,
Marina Schneiger and
Molly Nguyen got their third doubles victory of the season together, completing a convincing 6-3 set over Cary Milanes and Nicole Jones.
It was a true battle as things moved on into singles action, with the Jags sealing points at the No. 1, 3, 4 and 6. Lavrenchuk was at the top of the latter, securing her team-best eighth singles victory in a three-set nail-biter, surviving Courtney Lubbers 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. She's undefeated in singles play against Summit League opponents (3-0). Mayer also went the distance, responding to a narrow loss in the second set to win in three. She defeated Anna Daniel Fuentes 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 to improve to 4-12 and 8-19 for the year, dating back to the fall season. She's one of three Jags with a 2-1 record against Summit League players in dual-meet action.
Pessina had arguably the smoothest showing for any Jag player, earning a 7-5, 6-4 win against Ballesteros. The win was her second of the season at the No. 4, as she's 4-6 over her last 10 matches. Nguyen got her second victory of the season in solo play, tight-roping a 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over Milanes at the No. 6. Both wins for the freshman have come against Summit League opponents, as she's picked up three victories at the No. 3 doubles spot.
The victory clears the way for the Jags this weekend, as the team will rest before making the trip to the mile-high city, as the Jags prepare to face Denver next weekend (April 8) at 11 a.m. EST. The Pioneers are the reigning champs of the Summit League, sporting a 9-6 overall record this season. They'll begin Summit League action with South Dakota on the day prior before hosting IUPUI.
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