Lady Toppers Take Down UTEP in 4-1 Conference Opener

Saturday, January 27

Louisville, Ky.

10 a.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

UTEP

1/27/2018 2:27:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – WKU earned its first conference victory on Saturday with a 4-1 win over C-USA foe UTEP at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center in Louisville. The Lady Toppers collected the doubles point and defeated UTEP representatives in three singles matches to notch the league win.

Play began with doubles action when graduate senior Elpida Malamou and freshman Moka Ito teamed up for the first time this spring season, defeating the No. 1 UTEP tandem in a close 7-5 match. Sophomores Cindy Oest and Natalia De Ugarte continued their success together as the pair defeated UTEP 6-4. Oest and De Ugarte now carry a career doubles record of 25-9 when playing together.

The Lady Toppers held their own in the singles competition, defeating UTEP in straight sets from the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 courts. Malamou defeated UTEP's Lois Wagenvoort 6-1, 6-1. Senior Violetta Shatalova earned her 6-1, 6-2 victory over Raven Bennett, while De Ugarte defeated Alisa Morozova 6-1, 6-0.

Both Ito and Oest were ahead on their respective courts when WKU clinched the win. The Lady Toppers forfeited the No. 6 singles spot as well as the No. 3 doubles spot due to illness.

Last season, the Red and White finished with a 1-0 league record, playing and defeating only Middle Tennessee during the regular season.

Tomorrow, the Lady Toppers will face Louisville on the Cardinals' home court beginning at 10 a.m. CT.

Final Results

Singles
Elpida Malamou (WKU) def. Lois Wagenvoort (UTEP) 6-1, 6-1
Moka Ito (WKU) vs. Yvette Van Oijen (UTEP) 6-4, 3-1 DNF
Violetta Shatalova (WKU) def. Raven Bennett (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
Cindy Oest (WKU) vs. Erandi Martinez (UTEP) 6-2, 4-1 DNF
Natalia De Ugarte (WKU) def. Alisa Morozova 6-1, 6-0
Maria Paula Medina (UTEP) def. no player (WKU) by forfeit

Doubles
Malamou/Ito (WKU) def. Wagenvoort/Van Oijen (UTEP) 7-5
Oest/De Ugarte (WKU) def. Baigorria/Medina (UTEP) 6-4
Martinez/Morozova (UTEP) def. no player (WKU) by forfeit