CHICAGO – The Omaha women's tennis team split a doubleheader on Friday, defeating Chicago State 5-2 before falling to Oakland, 4-2. The split puts the Mavericks at 7-8 overall, with the victory helping Omaha surpass last season's win total.
MATCH 1 – OMAHA 5, CHICAGO STATE 2
In the opener, the Cougars claimed the doubles point by winning two of the three matches. The No. 1 doubles team of
Michelle Lo and
Janelle Wilson came through with a win over Mariya Kostyuk and Katarina Drazic, 6-2.
Omaha roared back in singles competition, as reigning Summit League Player of the Week
Marie Kapelevich breezed by Lorea Gamboa, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 3. Wilson, slotted at No. 2, defeated Anastasiia Goncharova, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1. At No. 4,
Natalie Lorentz was able to come back and hold on against Leshia Gadacz, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Emily Behling picked up a victory at No. 6 versus Alana Andrews, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, and Lo pulled out a thrilling win at No. 1 against Kostyuk, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-4 to close it.
MATCH 2 –OAKLAND 4, OMAHA 2
In the later match, it was Omaha that took two out of the three doubles matches to claim the first point. Once again the No. 1 duo of Wilson and Lo defeated Amanda Nilsson and Sofia Borcuti, 6-1. Lorentz and
Savanna Crowell clinched the point with a 6-3 win over Darya Maltseva and Alexandra Whall.
In singles play, the Golden Grizzlies picked up four wins to clinch the match. Lo, at No. 1, was the only Maverick to pick up a singles victory, 6-3, 6-4 over Dasha Artamonova.
"The Chicago State match was a fun one," head coach
Adam Summitt said. "We lost the doubles point but fought back in singles. To win four three-set matches is a testament to this group. They dug in and fought.
"The Oakland match was a tough one. It is never easy playing doubleheaders, but we went out there and did the best job we could. I felt like we were running on fumes at the end. Oakland was just the better team at the end and was able to execute their game plan. Overall, this was a good weekend to prepare for conference play."
The Mavericks return to action on Saturday, March 17, as they welcome Summit League foe Western Illinois to Miracle Hill Tennis Center at 11 a.m.
