Results (HTML)

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 31-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team upset No. 27 Southwest Baptist 5-4 Sunday afternoon at the NSU Tennis Complex.
 
The RiverHawks (14-4, 6-1 MIAA) handed the Bearcats (12-3, 5-1 MIAA) their first loss against an MIAA opponent since March 19, 2011. SBU was riding a 32-match win streak against conference opponents. The only other losses this season for Southwest Baptist came in the season opener and against Division I opponent Central Arkansas.  
 
The premier victory for NSU came at No. 1 singles, where sophomore Kristina Savchenkov upset No. 4-ranked Fanni Varga 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. Varga suffered just her second-career defeat as she entered the match 54-1 in her three seasons and riding a 44-match win streak. Her only other career loss during the spring season came on March 17, 2012 when she retired due to injury in a match against Emporia State.
 
NSU jumped on top early by winning two of the three doubles points. Senior Houda Bellamine and freshman Maria Lodge earned an 8-3 triumph over Paula Carvajaleno and Zorana Jovanovic at the third doubles position for the first point of the match.
 
Varga and Christina Zentai, the No. 9-ranked doubles tandem in the nation, tied the match at 1-1 by defeating senior Martina Bruzikova and freshman Valeriia Efimenko 8-3 at the top of the lineup. Junior Barbora Jirickova and Savchenkov swung doubles in favor of the home team by earning a hard-fought 9-7 victory over Mehak Singh and Lani Tuemmers at the second flight.
 
Singh and Zentai gave SBU a 3-2 advantage by winning at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Singh defeated Efimenko 6-4, 6-1, and Zentai topped Bellamine 7-6 (7-5), 6-0.
 
The team competition was then tied at 3-3 when Tuemmers was forced to retire after rolling her ankle early in the second set against Bruzikova on the fourth court.
 
SBU got a fourth point and reached the brink of victory when Jovanovic topped sophomore Lucia Cerchlanova 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 at the sixth position, but mere moments later was when Savchenkov clinched her upset victory over Varga.
 
The RiverHawks wrapped up the close battle on the fifth court, where Jirickova came from behind to defeat Carvajaleno 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
 
Northeastern State will now play host to Nebraska-Kearney at 3 p.m. April 4.
 
Tennis Match Results
Mar 30, 2014 at Tahlequah, Okla.
(NSU Tennis Complex)
 
#31 Northeastern State 5, #27 Southwest Baptist 4
 
Singles Competition
1. Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. #4 Fanni Varga (SBU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
2. Mehak Singh (SBU) def. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Christina Zentai (SBU) def. Houda Bellamine (NSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
4. Martina Bruzikova (NSU) def. Lani Tuemmers (SBU) 6-7 (3-7), 1-1, retired
5. Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. Paula Carvajaleno (SBU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Zorana Jovanovic (SBU) def. Lucia Cerchlanova (NSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles Competition
1. #9 Fanni Varga/Christina Zentai (SBU) def. Martina Bruzikova/Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) 8-3
2. Barbora Jirickova/Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. Mehak Singh/Lani Tuemmers (SBU) 9-7
3. Houda Bellamine/Maria Lodge (NSU) def. Paula Carvajaleno/Zorana Jovanovic (SBU) 8-3
 
Match Notes
Southwest Baptist 12-3, 5-1 MIAA; National ranking #27
Northeastern State 14-4, 6-1 MIAA; National ranking #31
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,3,4,6,1,5)

NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH AMANDA STONE
"I'm so proud of our team today. We've had a tough road this season, but we've stayed focused and worked hard. It's one thing to say you can compete, but today we proved it. Every line was important and we stepped up. The improvement and growth in just one year has been remarkable."
 
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