Huskies Secure Key GLIAC Win over Wayne State
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women's tennis team wrapped up an outstanding weekend, notching a 4-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Wayne State Sunday at the Gates Tennis Center. The Huskies opened the match with the all-important doubles point before claiming three singles wins to take the overall match. Tech swept Ashland 7-0 on Saturday to kick off the weekend.
"This was a huge win for us today and a great way to open the GLIAC portion of the schedule," Michigan Tech Head Coach Kevin Kalinec said. "Everybody stepped up today and this is the best we've played in doubles so far this season. We are competitive and can get wins from any spot in the lineup and that was crucial for us today.
"Jessica [Brown] bounced back from a tough second set loss in No. 2 singles to win in the third set. In No. 6 singles, Anabella clinched the win with a solid performance. I'm very proud of our players and the effort this weekend. We'll have to continue to work hard this week as we get ready for a couple of tough road matches at Saginaw Valley State and Northwood next weekend."
The doubles portion of Sunday's match was completed in order, starting with a 6-1 victory by sophomore Ivona Gorgioski and freshman Jessica Brown in No 1 singles. The duo got off to a quick start and never looked back against Linda Liong and Laura Cazacu. Senior Vicky Quinde and freshman Samantha Johnson also played well in No. 2 doubles, topping Dasha Kuznetsova and Tanja Skalda of Wayne State (1-1, 1-1 GLIAC) 6-2.
Michigan Tech (3-0, 2-0 GLIAC) claimed the doubles point with those wins and nearly swept all three doubles contests Sunday. Freshman Mirna Golac and senior Allenca Rolim went back and forth with Irena van Meer and Carla Jewell, before falling 7-6 with an 8-6 tiebreaker.
The No. 3 and No. 4 singles matches were the first to go in the books on Sunday. The Warriors were able to secure both of those points as Liong outlasted Johnson 6-1, 6-2 while Skalda prevailed against Quinde 6-3, 6-4. It didn't look good for the Huskies when Kuznetsova claimed the third singles point to be finalized, slipping past Gorgioski 6-3, 3-6, and 6-4 in three sets at the No.1 spot.
Brown then gave Tech some momentum back in No. 2 singles as she turned the tables on Cazacu in a three set battle. Brown won set one 7-6 with an 8-6 tiebreaker, but fell in the second set 4-6. Brown bounced back and won the third set 6-2, giving Tech a crucial point.
The match boiled down to the No. 5 and No. 6 spots in the singles lineup, and the Huskies were able to come through for both points. Golac recorded scores of 6-4 and 6-2 to defeat Irena van Meer in the No. 5 spot to deadlock the overall match score at 3-3. Neri then stepped up with the match clinching point in the No. 6 singles. Neri fired past Carla Jewell 6-1, 6-1 to complete the 4-3 victory over the Warriors.
The Huskies will be back on the court Saturday morning in a GLIAC match at Saginaw Valley State followed by a conference battle with Northwood on Sunday. Saturday's first serve is slated for 10 a.m. while Sunday's start time is set for 11 a.m.
