Southern Illinois University
Northern Iowa
Women's Tennis tops Northern Iowa, 4-3
04/10/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
April 10, 2010
By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Salukis women's tennis team came through with a pivotal win Saturday in Carbondale, as they defeated Northern Iowa, 4-3, in a critical Missouri Valley Conference match for both teams.
The Dawgs won four of the six singles matches on the day, despite losing the doubles point for the first time in almost a month.
"This was a huge win for us in a lot of ways," said Saluki head coach Audra Nothwehr. "We were close in number one and number three doubles, but we came up with big wins in singles to take the match."
With the match tied at three team points apiece, Jennifer Dien turned in a clutch third set performance in No. 3 singles to defeat Sampada Kanade 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. Not only did the win give Southern the win, but was also Dien's team-high 12th victory in singles.
Michela Cruise notched two wins on the day for the Salukis. In singles, the senior handled Stefannia Sampaio 6-4, 6-2, while teaming up with Anastacia Simons to down Katy Delagardelle and Sampaio, 9-8 (7-4), for the lone doubles win.
In other singles action, Melanie Delsart and Jessica Flannery captured the other wins for Southern. Delsart beat UNI's Phoebe Walker 6-2, 7-5, while Flannery dominated Talia Jang-Stewart 6-0, 6-1.
"One of our team goals this year was to beat Northern Iowa," Nothwehr said. "They were the only team we had on that list and I'm glad we accomplished that."
The Salukis will return to the courts tomorrow for Senior Day, when they faced the Drake Bulldogs in a 10 a.m. match.
Players Mentioned
