Southern Illinois University
Eastern Kentucky
Women's Tennis swept in Saturday doubleheader
01/30/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 30, 2010
By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com
The Saluki women's tennis team was downed in two matches Saturday in Kentucky, falling to Eastern Kentucky by a slim 4-3 margin before being swept by Louisville in the nightcap, 7-0.
Eastern Kentucky 4, Southern Illinois 3
RICHMOND, Ky. - SIU suffered their second defeat of the young 2010 season, narrowly falling to Eastern Kentucky, 4-3, Saturday in Richmond, Ky.
With both teams tied at three match points apiece, the deciding point came down to the #5 singles match between two seniors - SIU's Jessica Flannery and EKU's Anais Hamel.
Despite Hamel winning the first set, Flannery battled back to notch a set two win and set up a winner-take-all set three. However, Flannery couldn't hold the momentum and fell to Hamel 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
The Salukis opened the match by taking the doubles point, as Jennifer Dien and Flannery defeated Catarina Blanco and Alyze Pagal in #2 doubles, 8-1. Martina Vianna Ce and Melanie Delsart flowed that by topping EKU's Anais Hamel and Myriem Mhirit, 8-2, in #3 doubles.
"I was very happy with our doubles today," said Head Coach Audra Nothwehr. "All three of our teams played very strong."
Yet, the Colonels were able to take four of the six singles matches. Winning in singles play for the Salukis were Delsart, who outclassed Jessica Albuquerque 6-2, 6-1, and Vianna Ce, who defeated Catarina Branco 7-6, 6-1.
"It was a dogfight until the very end and several of the matches came down to a couple points," Nothwehr said. "The match came down to Jessica's match and she fought off five match points before the other girl was finally able to win it. We just have to learn how to play under pressure."
Louisville 7, Southern Illinois 0
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With their second match of the day, the Salukis were defeated by the Louisville Cardinals, 7-0, Saturday in Louisville, Ky.
The loss drops SIU to 0-3 to start the 2010 campaign.
The doubles teams continued their strong play in the weekend. In #3 doubles, the duo of Dien and Flannery pushed the Cardinals' Sarah Miller and Garielle Duncan to tiebreakers. However, the SIU pair fell in the extra session, 8-7(5).
In singles, Delsart turned in an impressive day of action. After recording her first collegiate victory earlier in the day, the freshman from Buenos Aires faced UL's Miller in top singles. Delsart was defeated 7-5, 6-2, but recorded one of the best performances for SIU.
In other singles action, Anastacia Simons drew her second regionally-ranked opponent of the weekend in Mandy Brown in #3 singles. But much like the first time, Simons was topped in straight sets, this time by a 6-2, 6-0 tally.
"We played very well in doubles," Nothwehr said. "It came down to playing the big points, but we just couldn't come through. In singles, I think we just ran out of steam with the two matches. Everyone gave a 100 percent, so I am proud of that."
"We scheduled a tough opening weekend for a reason and I hope it will motivate us in the long run."
The Saluki women will not play again until Feb. 14, when they entertain the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars for a Valentine's Day matinee at the Sports Blast Sports Complex in Carbondale.
Players Mentioned
