Lady Toppers Dominate Friday Doubleheader

Friday, March 17

Bowling Green, Ky.

2 PM

Western Kentucky University

Tennessee State

3/17/2023 10:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score - 1 Box Score - 2

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Tennis continued its 2023 campaign on Friday sweeping the doubleheader against Tennessee State and Southern Indiana without dropping a single set to improve to 12-7 on the season.

Tennessee State Recap
The Lady Toppers dominated throughout the match, starting with the doubles point, winning on courts two and three. The No. 2 duo of Samantha Martinez and Mariana Zegada earned the 6-2 victory while the No. 3 pair of Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova also won 6-2 to claim the doubles point and take the lead, 1-0.

In singles, the squad did not drop a set on their way to a 7-0 sweep over the Tigers. On court three, Hermanova tallied a 6-2, 6-2 victory to earn her, team-leading, 14th win of the season and 33rd of her career and now holds sole possession of the third-most singles wins in program history. At No. 1, Paola Cortez earned her sixth win of the season, 6-3, 6-4, and give the Lady Toppers a commanding 3-0 lead. To clinch the match, Mariana Zegada got the win at No. 6, 6-1, 6-2 to earn her seventh win of the season.

With the match decided, the final three matches were played out, all going in favor of the Lady Toppers. Sofia Blanco, Sunskrithi Damera, and Sayda Hernandez all claimed straight-set wins to give WKU its 11th win of the year.

"Really decisive match in doubles and singles against a good OVC team," said head coach Greg Davis. "Doubleheader days are always a physical and mental challenge, but we feel that the eight-match road trip and the two outside matches in the Texas heat helped us tremendously."

Final Results vs. Tennessee State
Singles (Order of finish: 3,1,6,4,5,2)
1. Paola Cortez (WKU) def. Warona Mdlulwa (TSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) def. Naomi Von Bose (TSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Daniela Koleva (TSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Aroa Arietta-Castillo (TSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) def. Franka Sindicic (TSU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Mikalia Coleman (TSU) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles (Order of finish: 2,3)
1. Cortez/Hernandez (WKU) vs. Von Bose/Sindicic (TSU) 5-2, unfinished
2. Martinez/Zegada (WKU) def. Mdlulwa/Nikolic (TSU) 6-2
3. Blanco/Hermanova (WKU) def. Koleva/Arietta-Castillo (TSU) 6-2

Southern Indiana Recap
WKU won the doubles point for the second time today, taking the matches on courts three and one. Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova claimed their second doubles win of the day, this time without dropping a game, 6-0. Paola Cortez and Sayda Hernandez clinched the point for the Lady Toppers, 6-4, to give the squad an early 1-0 lead.

Just as the early match, the Lady Toppers did not drop a single set on their way to a 7-0 sweep. Mariana Zegada earned her second win on the day and eighth of the season without dropping a game, 6-0, 6-0. Hermanova recorded her 34^th win of her career, just two behind Laura Bernardos (2019-2022) with 36. The sophomore took the win, 6-1, 6-1, on court three. At No. 2, Hernandez clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-1 victory in her second win of the day.

Up 4-0, and with the match already decided, the final three matches were played out, all resulting in Lady Topper wins. Sofia Blanco, Sunskrithi Damera, and Paola Cortez all claimed their second wins of the day to complete the 7-0 sweep.

"It was good to get two wins today, back-to-back," said Davis. "We needed today to get us ready for North Alabama on the road next Tuesday. They are a team that is very good on its home courts."

Final Results vs. Southern Indiana
Singles (Order of finish: 6,3,2,4,5,1)
1. Paola Cortez (WKU) def. Lauren Rowe (USI) 6-3, 6-4
2. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) def. Rachel McCorkle (USI) 6-0, 6-1
3. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Madison Windham (USI) 6-1, 6-1
4. Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Abby Myers (USI) 6-1, 6-1
5. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) def. Abby Brown (USI) 6-1, 6-0
6. Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Elle Dewees (USI) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles (Order of finish: 3,1)
1. Cortez/Hernandez (WKU) def. Rowe/Windham (USI) 6-4
2. Martinez/Zegada (WKU) vs. McCorkle/Myers (USI) 5-4, unfinished
3. Blanco/Hermanova (WKU) def. Thomas/Brown (USI) 6-0

The Lady Toppers will be back in action next Tuesday, March 21, against Northern Alabama in Florence, Ala.

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.