Southern Illinois University
Dayton
Women's Tennis wins first match of the season
02/02/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 2, 2008
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
DAYTON, Ohio - The Southern Illinois University women's tennis team began their regular season at the University of Dayton on Saturday. The Salukis defeated the flyers 5-2 to start the season off with a 1-0 record.
Sabine Tsala Mvilongo defeated Allysa Detroy 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. At No. 3 Jessica Flannery was down 4-0 in the first set but came back to win her match 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. Michela Cruise held off Chelsea Glankler, 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles. And at No. 5, senior Amanda Taillefer defeated Nikki Dzubay 6-3, 7-5.
"It was the first match of the season so there were some butterflies," said head coach Audra Nothwher. "We had a couple of rough starts but once we got them going we really turned it around. Amanda and Jessica were both down in their first sets, but came back and dominated."
At No. 1 doubles Flannery and Tsala Mvilongo teamed up to defeat Detroy and Megan Gray 8-6. Cruise and Martina Vianna Ce won at No. 2 doubles against Dzubay and Kelly O'Connell, 8-4. The Salukis grabbed the point with a 2-1 victory in doubles.
"For a full season we've been putting a lot of emphasis on doubles and it really paid off," Nothwehr said. "We were a lot more confident than when we began in August. It was a really good match."
The Salukis will continue action Sunday against Wright State at Five Seasons Sports Club in Dayton.
