TULSA, Okla. – The Omaha women's tennis team advanced to the Summit League Championship final for the first time in program history with a win over North Dakota.
The three-seeded Mavericks defeated the second-seeded Fighting Hawks, 4-2, in the semifinal round of the league tournament.
"It was just an amazing, gritty effort by our ladies today," said head coach
Adam Summitt. "I am so proud of the way they fought back. We knew it was going to be a fight. We got the doubles point and got a quick lead but started off slow in singles. Our team knew that we had to stay the course and fight back."
The Mavericks opened with the double point as the duo of
Janelle Wilson and
Savanna Crowell won 7-5 at No. 2, and
Natalie Lorentz and
Marie Kapelevich clinched the 1-0 team lead behind at 6-4 victory at No. 1.
In singles play, the match was tied as Wilson fell 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2, but Lorentz gave Omaha its second point with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 3. North Dakota, once again, tied the match at 2-all with a 6-3, 7-5 win over
Savanna Crowell, but
Emily Behling's three-set win at No. 4 singles (0-6, 6-4, 7-5) put Omaha back ahead.
Kapelevich clinched the match point for Omaha at No. 5 singles. Her 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 result advanced Omaha to the title game. At No. 1 singles,
Ines Absisan's match went unfinished at 6-7, 6-2, 2-0.
"Credit to North Dakota who played really well and brought out the best in us," said Summitt. "This group has come together in the last three weeks to make this a memorable season. We look forward to continuing this tomorrow."
Omaha returns to action for The Summit League Championship Final, as the Mavericks take on No. 1 Denver. The first serve is set for a 10 a.m. start in Tulsa.
