Results

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 21-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team defeated No. 19 Southwest Baptist 8-1 Sunday afternoon at the NSU Tennis Complex.
 
The RiverHawks (8-3, 4-0 MIAA) remained perfect in the conference, while handing the Bearcats (9-1, 1-1 MIAA) their first setback of the season. The 8-1 margin was also the most lopsided loss by SBU since the team suffered the same fate against Northeastern State on Feb. 26, 2011.
 
NSU also defeated SBU in the regular season last year, which halted a 32-match win streak against conference opponents for the Bearcats. They had built up another eight-match win streak against league foes before being toppled again by the RiverHawks Sunday.
 
The dominant day began on the second doubles court, where the freshman tandem of Molly Worden and Daria Panferova defeated Christina Zentai and Lani Tuemmers 8-0 on the second court. Zentai had lost just twice during the spring in her entire three-year career (56-2), and the 8-0 setback was the worst of her career (previous worst was 8-5).
 
That victory was followed by an 8-2 triumph for sophomore Valeriia Efimenko and freshman Easton Parker over Zorana Jovanovic and Beatrix Federer on the third court.
 
NSU picked up the doubles sweep when juniors Kristina Savchenkov and Patricia Husakova knocked off Fanni Varga and Maria Josie Zehnder 9-8 (8-6) at the top of the lineup. This was just the second doubles loss for Varga during the regular season since her freshman year. She was 52-1 over the last three years in doubles play.
 
Zentai and Varga comprise the No. 4-ranked doubles team in the nation but did not play together against NSU.
 
The RiverHawks began singles with a 4-0 lead in the match after the Bearcats defaulted at the No. 6 position.
 
Panferova clinched the team victory for NSU when she defeated Jovanovic 6-0, 6-0 on the third court. Worden added a sixth point when she took down Federer 6-0, 6-0 at the fourth flight.
 
Efimenko defeated Tuemmers 6-1, 6-1 on the third court and Husakova earned a 6-3, 6-3 win over Zehnder at the second position.
 
The lone point of the match for Southwest Baptist came at No. 1 singles, where No. 15-ranked Varga defeated No. 17 Savchenkov 6-2, 6-2.
 
Northeastern State improved to 6-3 over the Bearcats since 2006. The RiverHawks own more victories over SBU in the last 10 years than any other opponent.
 
NSU remains home for its next match, which will be against Central Oklahoma at 2 p.m. March 25 at the NSU Tennis Complex.
 
Tennis Match Results
Mar 22, 2015 at Tahlequah, Okla.
(NSU Tennis Complex)
 
#21 Northeastern State 8, #19 Southwest Baptist 1
 
Singles Competition
1. #15 Fanni Varga (SBU) def. #17 Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Maria Josie Zehnder (SBU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) def. Lani Tuemmers (SBU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Molly Worden (NSU) def. Beatrix Federer (SBU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Daria Panferova (NSU) def. Zorana Jovanovic (SBU) 6-0, 6-0
6. NSU won by default
 
Doubles Competition
1. Kristina Savchenkov/Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Fanni Varga/Maria Josie Zehnder (SBU) 9-8 (8-6)
2. Molly Worden/Daria Panferova (NSU) def. Christina Zentai/Lani Tuemmers (SBU) 8-0
3. Valeriia Efimenko/Easton Parker (NSU) def. Zorana Jovanovic/Beatrix Federer (SBU) 8-2
 
Match Notes
Southwest Baptist 9-1, 1-1 MIAA; National ranking #19
Northeastern State 8-3, 4-0 MIAA; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,4,3,1,2)
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH AMANDA STONE
Statement…
"I'm really proud of how our team competed today. We came out fired up and played to win. The week leading up to this match helped tremendously to boost our confidence in big matches. We have set our goals high for the season and this win was a big step to helping us reach those goals. We're happy with this result and will keep working on our mental games so we can continue to improve at every line."

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