Lady Toppers Fall to Northern Kentucky in Six Hour Match

Friday, February 24

Florence, Ky.

4 PM

Western Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky

2/24/2023 10:49:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

FLORENCE, Ky. — WKU Tennis continued its 2023 season on Friday losing to Northern Kentucky 4-3, after six hours of play, in Florence, Ky. The Lady Toppers move to 7-5, while the Norse improve to 3-4.

"Tough loss. Give NKU credit. We just could not get control of the match and they had something to do with that happening," said head coach Greg Davis. "We have a very difficult match against Cincinnati tomorrow, so we will have to put it behind us completely."

In doubles, Samantha Martinez and Mariana Zegada managed to win at No. 3, 6-1, but the Norse claimed both matches on courts one and two to take the doubles point and go up 1-0 into singles play. Martinez is now tied for first place in doubles wins with former teammate, Cora-Lynn von Dungern (2019-21) with 37 total.

In singles, five of six matches went to a decisive third set.

Paola Cortez won the only match not decided by a third set, winning 6-4, 6-2 to tie the match at one. Following that, the Tops saw its first and only lead of the match after Rachel Hermanova received the win after her opponent had to retire from the match due to injury. The sophomore earns her, team-leading, ninth win of the season and 28th career win, good for sole possession of sixth place on the all-time program wins list. The final singles match win for the Lady Toppers came from Sunskrithi Damera, winning 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 on court five, giving the Tops the 3-1 lead.

The Norse claimed the final three matches, all in three sets, to win the match, 4-3.

WKU Tennis will continue play on the road tomorrow against Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 12:30 p.m. CT.

Final Results
Singles (Order of finish: 1,3,5,2,4,6)
1: Paola Cortez (WKU) def. Elizabeth Rozin (NKU) 6-4, 6-2
2: Ashlee Fisk (NKU) def. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
3: Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Marijose Hernandez (NKU) 5-7, 6-2, default
4: Laura Sola Grau (NKU) def. Sofia Blanco (WKU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
5: Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) def. Ananya Kothakota (NKU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
6: Sylvia Gray (NKU) def. Mariana Zegada (WKU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

Doubles (Order of finish: 2,3,1)
1: Hernandez/Sola Grau (NKU) def. Cortez/Hernandez (WKU) 7-6 (3)
2: Fisk/Rozin (NKU) def. Blanco/Hermanova (WKU) 6-0
3: Martinez/Zegada (WKU) def. Rinaldi/Gray (NKU) 6-1

How to follow WKU Tennis: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Tennis, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKUTennis on Twitter and @WKUTennis Instagram.