HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — WKU Tennis started its two-day road trip with a 6-1 victory at Alabama A&M. Sunday's win was the fifth for the Lady Toppers this season, as the team improved its overall record to 5-12.
"We played well today; after a good start in doubles we followed it up with some great sets in singles," head coach Greg Davis said.
WKU increased its all-time advantage to 8-1 against the Bulldogs, including seven straight in the series.
To begin the day, the opening doubles point went to the Lady Toppers. The No. 2 duo of Laura Bernardos and Samantha Martinez winning 6-0 and the No. 1 team of Lisa Friess and Cora-Lynn von Dungern clinched with a 6-1 victory.
WKU then continued its momentum into singles play with four straight-set wins to jump out to a 5-0 lead and secure a team victory. Tristen Bryant-Otake started things out with a 6-0, 6-2 result, followed by a 6-0, 6-2 finish from Friess. Bernardos then posted a 6-2, 6-1 score, followed by a 6-1, 6-3 outcome from Lauren Joch.
Alabama A&M won in a third-set tiebreaker at the No. 6 position to get the home team on the board, but von Dungern finished by winning a third-set tiebreaker of her own, giving the Lady Toppers the 6-1 final score. It pushed the Worms, Germany, native's record to a perfect 4-0 in third-set tiebreakers this season.
As the Bulldogs fell to 4-6 in their final regular-season match of 2021, WKU's next opponent – North Alabama – holds a 6-12 record going into Monday's 1 p.m. matchup in Florence.
"I think it was a good match to prepare us for the Lions tomorrow," Davis added. "North Alabama has beaten us 4-3 each of the last two years and we have great respect for that program. I'm sure Monday will be another battle."
Final Results
Singles (Order of finish: 4,5,2,3,6,1)
1: Cora-Lynn von Dungern (WKU) def. Jasmine Boyd (AAMU) 4-6, 6-2, 10-6
2: Laura Bernardos (WKU) def. Anita Bozhko (AAMU) 6-2, 6-1
3: Lauren Joch (WKU) def. Ximena Duarte Ramirez (AAMU) 6-1, 6-3
4: Tristen Bryant-Otake (WKU) def. Camila Ruiz Diaz (AAMU) 6-0, 6-2
5: Lisa Friess (WKU) def. Neha Ghare (AAMU) 6-0, 6-2
6: Ayana Rengiil (AAMU) def. Alexis Cramer (WKU) 3-6, 6-2, 10-7
Doubles (Order of finish 2,1)
1: Friess/von Dungern (WKU) def. Boyd/Bozhko (AAMU) 6-1
2: Bernardos/Martinez (WKU) vs. Ruiz Diaz/Woods (AAMU) 6-0
3: Bryant-Otake/Joch (WKU) def. Duarte Ramirez/Mashego (AAMU) 4-1, unfinished
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