BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – WKU Women's Tennis junior Rachel Hermanova broke the program's career singles win record in a match against Samford on Friday at the Samford Tennis Center.
Hermanova defeated Samford's Aly Hayduk 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 for her program-record 45th-career singles victory, but the Lady Toppers fell 4-3 in the match to snap a six-match winning streak.
"Great match against a very good Samford team," WKU Head Coach Greg Davis said. "One of the best matches I've seen in college tennis with both teams competing to maximum level. Very happy for Rachel breaking the record."
With her win, Hermanova eclipsed the previous record set by Elpida Malamou of 44 career singles wins from 2014-18. The program now has the career singles and career doubles wins leaders – Samantha Martinez holds the doubles record with 51 – active on the roster this season.
The 51st career doubles win of Martinez's career came Friday against the Bulldogs, when she teamed up with Mariana Zegada for a 6-4 victory over Margaret Jaraczewski and Lauren Waddles. The Lady Toppers dropped the doubles points to the hosts, however.
In addition to Hermanova's win, the Lady Toppers picked up singles wins from Sofia Blanco and Zegada. Blanco defeated Emily Surcey 6-4, 6-1 in No. 2 singles to improve to 13-1 this spring, and Zegada defeated Samantha Maras 7-5, 6-1 in No. 6 singles.
WKU fell to 9-6 with the defeat, which snapped a six-match winning streak that began Feb. 24 with a 4-3 victory over Wyoming at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park. The six-match winning streak was tied for the fourth-best stretch in program history.
The Lady Toppers will remain in Birmingham for a 1 p.m. CT match against UAB at the Hoover Met Tennis Center on Saturday, March 23.
Final Results
Singles (Order of finish: 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5)
Alexis Lopez (SAM) def. Paola Cortez (WKU) 7-5, 7-5
Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Emily Surcey (SAM) 6-4, 6-1
Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Ally Hayduk (SAM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Noelle Mauro (SAM) def. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) 6-3, 6-4
Margaret Jaraczewski (SAM) def. Anna-Marie Kopecka (WKU) 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Samantha Maras (SAM) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 1, 2)
Alexis Lopez/Noelle Mauro (SAM) def. Paola Cortez/Anna-Marie Kopecka (WKU) 6-4
Emily Surcey/Grace Keller (SAM) def. Sofia Blanco/Sayda Hernandez (WKU) 7-6 (7-5)
Mariana Zegada/Samantha Martinez (WKU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski/Lauren Waddles (SAM) 6-4
For all the latest on WKU Women's Tennis, follow @WKUTennis on Twitter and Instagram.
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