Results (HTML)

TYLER, Texas – The No. 35-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team posted a 5-4 victory over Tyler Junior College Monday afternoon at the Murphy Tennis Complex.
 
The RiverHawks (10-4) won their fifth-straight match after starting the year 5-4. The Apache Ladies (14-4) are the No. 1-ranked team in the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA). The loss for TJC was the first this season against a team that doesn't compete in NCAA Division I. The only other losses have been to Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Houston.
 
The home team got the first point of the day when Fausthyara Pietersz and Joanna Savva defeated senior Martina Bruzikova and freshman Valeriia Efimenko 8-0 at the top of the doubles lineup. Pietersz and Savva are the No. 1-ranked NJCAA doubles team in the nation.
 
Northeastern State responded with a pair of 8-4 victories on the final two courts to gain a critical 2-1 lead following doubles action.
 
First off were junior Barbora Jirickova and sophomore Kristina Savchenkov, who defeated Kylie Reynaud and Paige Murdock at the second position. Reynaud and Murdock are the No. 6-ranked tandem in the country. Senior Houda Bellamine and freshman Maria Lodge then topped Danielle Stillman and Adriana Garrett 8-4 on the third court.
 
Tyler Junior College flipped the score to 4-2 in favor of the home team after capturing the first three decisions in singles. Pietersz defeated Savchenkov 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 from the first position, Savva defeated Efimenko 6-3, 6-1 on the second court and De Wet topped Bellamine 6-1, 7-5 at the fourth spot. Pietersz (No. 2) and Savva (No. 5) are two of the five best singles players in the NJCAA, while De Wet is ranked No. 40 in the nation.
 
The comeback for the RiverHawks began on the sixth court, where sophomore Lucia Cerchlanova defeated Garrett 6-2, 6-4. Jirickova then tied the match at 4-4 when she defeated No. 45-ranked Kerry Weigand 6-4, 6-4 from the fifth flight.
 
The decisive match came at No. 3 singles, where Bruzikova defeated No. 29-ranked Nicki Johnson 6-3, 7-5.
 
Northeastern State will next be in action at 3 p.m. March 21 against Northwest Missouri State in Tahlequah.
 
Tennis Match Results
Mar 17, 2014 at Tyler, Texas
(Murphy Tennis Complex)
 
#35 Northeastern State 5, #1 Tyler Junior College 4

Singles Competition
1. #2 Fausthyara Pietersz (TJC) def. #49 Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
2. #5 Joanna Savva (TJC) def. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Martina Bruzikova (NSU) def. #29 Nicki Johnson (TJC) 6-3, 7-5
4. #40 Ashleigh De Wet (TJC) def. Houda Bellamine (NSU) 6-1, 7-5
5. Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. #45 Kerry Wiegand (TJC) 6-4, 6-4
6. Lucia Cerchlanova (NSU) def. Adriana Garrett (TJC) 6-2, 6-4
 
Doubles Competition
1. #1 Fausthyara Pietersz/Joanna Savva (TJC) def. Valeriia Efimenko/Martina Bruzikova (NSU) 8-0
2. Kristina Savchenkov/Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. #6 Kylie Reynaud/Paige Murdock (TJC) 8-4
3. Houda Bellamine/Maria Lodge (NSU) def. Danielle Stillman/Adriana Garrett (TJC) 8-4
 
Match Notes
Northeastern State 10-4; National ranking #35
Tyler Junior College 14-4; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,4,6,5,3)
 
* = Rankings for TJC are in the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA)
 
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