HUNTINGTON, W. Va. — WKU Tennis finished the 2022 regular season on Saturday afternoon with a Conference USA road match against the Marshall Thundering Herd.
The Lady Toppers defeated the Thundering Herd on the road on Saturday to improve to 2-1 in conference play and 18-8 overall on the campaign. This marks the first time the Lady Topper Tennis program has had a winning record in conference play since the 2016-17 season.
The 4-3 victory makes it the seventh match of the season decided by one point. WKU has a 4-3 record in those matches.
WKU took the early edge after winning the doubles point. The No. 3 duo of Sofia Blanco and Samantha Martinez finished first of the three matches, winning 6-2. They improved to 13-4 in doubles on the year, good for second-best on the team behind the No. 1 doubles pair of Cora-Lynn von Dungern and Paola Cortez. Following that, Laura Bernardos and Mariana Zegada took the win on Court 2, 6-3 to give the Lady Toppers the early 1-0 lead. They get their fourth doubles win on the season. WKU finishes the regular season 17-3 when they win the doubles point.
In singles, WKU won three of six matches to take the match.
The first three matches in singles play went in favor of Marshall, taking the matches on Court 1, Court 3, and then Court 2. Down 3-1, the Lady Toppers battled back getting three straight wins from three freshman. Sofia Blanco started the comeback, winning in straight sets at No. 5, 7-5, 6-3. Rachel Hermanova was able to tie the match at three, winning 6-2, 7-6 (5). With this win, Hermanova gets her 18th singles win on the year, setting the record for most singles wins in a season, formerly held by Karina Ledaja set back in the 2003-04 season.
With the match evened at three, the Court 6 match was the only match to go to a third set. Mariana Zegada was able to complete the comeback for WKU, winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 in a thrilling match to secure the victory.
"It was a great win today. I couldn't be more proud of the team." head coach Greg Davis said. "To finish with five straight regular season wins and to come here and have three freshman at four, five, and six pull it out for us was phenomenal."
With the conclusion of the regular season, the Lady Toppers begin Conference USA Tournament play next Thursday, April 21 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Final Results
Singles (Order of finish: 1,3,2,5,4,6)
1: Emma Vanderheyden (MAR) def. Cora-Lynn von Dungern (WKU) 6-0, 6-3
2: Liz Stefancic (MAR) def. Laura Bernardos (WKU) 6-4, 6-4
3: Madi Ballow (MAR) def. Paola Cortez (WKU) 6-4, 6-1
4: Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Jutte Van Hansewyck (MAR) 6-2, 7-6 (5)
5: Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Gabrielle Clairotte (MAR) 7-5, 6-3
6: Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Sophia Hurrion (MAR) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Doubles (Order of finish 3,2)
1: Cortez/von Dungern (WKU) vs. Vanderheyden/Stefancic (MAR) 4-5, unfinished
2: Bernardos/Zegada (WKU) def. Ballow/Hurrion (MAR) 6-3
3: Blanco/Martinez (WKU) def. Clairotte/Van Hansewyck (MAR) 6-2
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