Results
KEARNEY, Neb. – The No. 37-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team earned an 8-1 triumph over University of Nebraska Kearney Friday afternoon at Harmon Park.
The RiverHawks (15-2, 6-1 MIAA) won all three doubles matches and took five of six singles matches, while the Lopers (13-4, 3-3 MIAA) dropped just their fourth match of the season. This was also the worst loss for UNK since the team suffered the same fate on Feb. 25, 2012 against University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
The junior doubles team of
Jeanne Mallem and
Houda Bellamine kicked off the match on a high note, as they posted an 8-4 decision over Britni Norfolk and Kelly Messbarger on the second court.
Senior
Ivana Belejova and freshman
Kristina Savchenkov, the nation's No. 19-ranked doubles duo, dispatched of Vanessa Gunawan and Heather Connolly 8-4 at the top of the order.
Junior
Martina Bruzikova and sophomore
Barbora Jirickova cleared the board with an 8-5 win over Tealyn Trimble and Dominique Kropp at the third flight.
Northeastern State put in work early on the singles side of competition. The visitors collected a point on the fifth court when Mallem defeated Messbarger 6-3, 6-1, and NSU locked up the match when Savchenkov dropped Kristin Weems 6-1, 6-1 from the second court.
With the team victory in tow, NSU earned three more points on courts 3, 4 and 6. Bruzikova cruised past Norfolk 6-0, 6-0, Bellamine defeated Connolly 6-1, 6-3, and Jirickova earned a 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3) triumph over Trimble.
Bruzikova collected her 15th-consecutive singles win, and NSU remained undefeated from the fifth position this season (17-0).
UNK's lone point of the match came from the top of the lineup, where Gunawan defeated Belejova 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-7).
Northeastern State will now face Fort Hays State at 10 a.m. March 30 in Hays, Kan.
Tennis Match Results
Mar 29, 2013 at Kearney, Neb.
(Harmon Park)
#37 Northeastern State 8, Nebraska Kearney 1
Singles competition
1. Vanessa Gunawan (UNK) def.
Ivana Belejova (NSU) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
2.
Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. Kristin Weems (UNK) 6-1, 6-1
3.
Martina Bruzikova (NSU) def. Britni Norfolk (UNK) 6-0, 6-0
4.
Houda Bellamine (NSU) def. Heather Connolly (UNK) 6-1, 6-3
5.
Jeanne Mallem (NSU) def. Kelly Messbarger (UNK) 6-3, 6-1
6.
Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. Tealyn Trimble (UNK) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3)
Doubles competition
1. #19
Ivana Belejova/
Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. Vanessa Gunawan/Heather Connolly (UNK) 8-4
2.
Jeanne Mallem/
Houda Bellamine (NSU) def. Britni Norfolk/Kelly Messbarger (UNK) 8-4
3.
Martina Bruzikova/
Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. Tealyn Trimble/Dominique Kropp (UNK) 8-5
Match Notes:
Northeastern State 15-2, 6-1 MIAA; National Ranking #37
Nebraska Kearney 13-4, 3-3 MIAA
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,2,3,4,6,1)
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