Box Score (HTML)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The No. 20-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team lost a 6-3 decision to No. 29 Drury Sunday afternoon inside the Cooper Tennis Complex.
 
The RiverHawks (2-1) lost their first match of the season, while the Lady Panthers (3-0) remained perfect on the year.
 
DU got on the board first, when Weronika Halicka and Samanta Zambrano earned an 8-6 victory over the newly-formed team of sophomore Valeriia Efimenko and freshman Easton Parker at No. 3 doubles. Juniors Kristina Savchenkov and Patricia Husakova then evened the match after toppling Stefanie Monsch and Lara muller 8-6 at the top doubles flight.
 
Hadeil Ali and Larissa Karl were able to swing momentum to the favor of the home team heading into singles by defeating freshmen Molly Worden and Daria Panferova 9-8 (7-4) on the second court.
 
The Lady Panthers quickly went ahead 3-1 when Halicka defeated senior Barbora Jirickova 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 6 singles position. Karl then topped Panferova 7-5, 6-3 on the fourth court, and Zambrano wrapped up the team victory after defeating Efimenko 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 from the fifth position.
 
Muller earned a sixth point for Drury by defeating Worden 6-3, 6-4 from the third court, and the RiverHawks were able to secure three-set victories at the final two matches.
 
Savchenkov, ranked No. 17 in the nation in singles, was able to avoid an upset on the top court when she cruised past No. 48-ranked Ali 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. Husakova then narrowly got past Monsch 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 1-0 (10-8) to close out the day.
 
Northeastern State will now prep for its home opener, which is set for 2 p.m. Feb. 28 against Central Arkansas.
 
Tennis Match Results
Feb 15, 2015 at Springfield, Mo.
(Cooper Tennis Complex)
 
#29 Drury 6, #20 Northeastern State 3
 
Singles Competition
1. #17 Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. #48 Hadeil Ali (DU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Stefanie Monsch (DU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Lara Muller (DU) def. Molly Worden (NSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Larissa Karl (DU) def. Daria Panferova (NSU) 7-5, 6-3
5. Samanta Zambrano (DU) def. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
6. Weronika Halicka (DU) def. Barbora Jirickova (NSU) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles Competition
1. Kristina Savchenkov/Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Stefanie Monsch/Lara Muller (DU) 8-6
2. Hadeil Ali/Larissa Karl (DU) def. Molly Worden/Daria Panferova (NSU) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Weronika Halicka/Samanta Zambrano (DU) def. Valeriia Efimenko/Easton Parker (NSU) 8-6
 
Match Notes
Northeastern State 2-1; National ranking #20
Drury 3-0; National ranking #29
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,5,3,1,2)
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH AMANDA STONE
"I can't fault the effort today. We gave 100 percent and we just lost. Sometimes you need a loss to learn. Now we know what it takes every day to play at the level we want to play at. It takes every person taking responsibility to make themselves and their team better every single day. That's our next step if we want to get to the next level."
 
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