BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Tennis continued its 2022 campaign with two wins on Sunday against the UT Chattanooga Mocs and the Tennessee State Tigers.
The Lady Toppers have a full weekend of home matches next weekend in Bowling Green, with matchups against Austin Peay on Friday, March 4, SIU Edwardsville on Saturday, March 5, and Belmont on Sunday, March 6. WKU and the Governors will begin play at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
UT Chattanooga Recap
WKU got off to a 1-0 start by winning the doubles point. After losing at the No. 2 position, the Hilltoppers bounced back. The No. 3 pair of Sofia Blanco and Samantha Martinez evened the score by winning on Court 3, 6-4. The No. 1 duo of Paola Cortez and Cora-Lynn von Dungern then clinched the doubles point on Court 1, winning 6-3.
Going into singles play, the Mocs were able to tie the score 1-1 after winning at the No. 4 spot. Laura Bernardos put the Tops back in the lead winning 6-3, 6-1 on Court 2. UT Chattanooga responded, winning at the No. 5 spot and tying the match 2-2. Paola Cortez took care of business at No. 3, taking the three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, giving WKU the 3-2 edge. Cora-Lynn von Dungern was able to clinch the match at No. 1, winning in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Having the victory already in hand, the final match was played out, going in favor of the Mocs, making the final score, 4-3.
"What a great college tennis match. We had to fight very hard against a really good UT Chattanooga team. It is really rare to get three wins at one, two, and three to win a match. Those are the three toughest opponents you are going up against," head coach Greg Davis said. "For us to pull this out and win at the top three positions, while being down in the third in two of those matches, it was a great effort by the team."
Final Results vs. UT Chattanooga
Singles (Order of finish: 4,2,5,3,1,6)
1: Cora-Lynn von Dungern (WKU) def. Nicole Abel (UTC) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
2: Laura Bernardos (WKU) def. Jessie Young (UTC) 6-3, 6-1
3: Paola Cortez (WKU) def. Caroline Gibbens (UTC) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
4: Emma Van Hee (UTC) def. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) 6-2, 6-0
5: Callie Billman (UTC) def. Taylor Shaw (WKU) 6-4, 6-1
6: Coco Bosman (UTC) def. Alexis Cramer (WKU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles (Order of finish 2,3,1)
1: Cortez/von Dungern (WKU) def. Billman/Young (UTC) 6-3
2: Van Hee/Bosman (UTC) def. Bernardos/Hermanova (WKU) 6-1
3: Blanco/Martinez (WKU) def. Abel/Gibbens (UTC) 6-4
Tennessee State Recap
The Lady Toppers won the doubles point for the third straight match. Making them 8-0 when they win the doubles point. There were only two doubles matches played, giving WKU the victory at No. 3 winning by default. Only needing one more win to clinch the point, the No. 2 pair of Laura Bernardos and Rachel Hermanova won their match, 6-0, taking the early advantage.
In singles play, the Lady Toppers just needed to win two matches to secure the victory against the Tigers, due to Sofia Blanco getting the victory at the No. 6 spot by default. Taylor Shaw and Alexis Cramer swept at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions, both winning 6-0, 6-0. With WKU having already won the match, the rest of the matches went in favor of the Tops. Laura Bernardos took the decision in the No. 1 slot, 6-1, 6-1. Paola Cortez won at No. 2, 6-0, 6-1. Rachel Hermanova gave WKU the 7-0 sweep, winning 6-0, 7-6 (1) at the No. 3 spot.
"We played well in our second match of the day. Today, we played well in both matches. The second match is always where conditioning comes in to play and we passed the test," Davis said. "The team is very happy to be 8-3, but we know we have a challenge ahead of us this week with three tough opponents Friday, Saturday, and Sunday."
Final Results vs. Tennessee State
Singles (Order of finish: 6,4,5,1,2,3)
1: Laura Bernardos (WKU) def Daniela Koleva (TSU) 6-1, 6-1
2: Paola Cortez (WKU) vs. Naomi Von Bose (TSU) 6-0, 6-1
3: Rachel Hermanova (WKU) vs. Franka Sindicic (TSU) 6-0, 7-6 (1)
4: Taylor Shaw (WKU) vs. Mckhia McCrary (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
5: Alexis Cramer (WKU) def. Presley Hall (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
6: Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. No player (TSU) by default
Doubles (Order of finish 3,2,DNF)
1: Cortez/von Dungern (WKU) vs. Koleva/Sindicic (TSU) 2-3, unfinished
2: Bernardos/Martinez (WKU) def. Von Bose/Hall (TSU) 6-0
3: Blanco/Martinez (WKU) def. No player (TSU) by default
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