Huskies Close GLIAC Schedule with 7-0 Win over Lake Superior State

Huskies Close GLIAC Schedule with 7-0 Win over Lake Superior State

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women's tennis team powered past Lake Superior State University 7-0 Saturday to wrap up the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference portion of the 2018-19 schedule. The Huskies also honored seniors Allenca Rolim and Vicky Quinde prior to the first serve of Saturday's contest.

"I'm really proud of our players today for their effort against a good Lake Superior State team," Head Coach Kevin Kalinec said. "I was happy for our seniors Allenca [Rolim] and Vicky [Quinde] who both played well and have been an integral part of our program throughout their careers here at Tech. We faced some adversity in some close matches today, but it was great to see our players battle through and make some big shots when they needed to. We'll get back to work at practice this week as we look to get better and prepare for the GLIAC Tournament next weekend."

Michigan Tech (8-2, 7-2 GLIAC) earned all seven points on Saturday, but had to battle in some pressure packed sets against Lake Superior State (4-5, 4-5 GLIAC). The Huskies were able to establish a 1-0 lead through doubles thanks to the wins in all three matches. Sophomore Ivona Gorgioski and freshman Jessica Brown were paired up in No. 1 doubles and prevailed 6-2 over Tara Harvey and Nadege Koua of the Lakers. Of the three doubles contests, the four-point spread would be the largest enjoyed by the Huskies as Gorgioski and Brown picked up their ninth doubles win.

In No.2 doubles, Quinde and freshman Samantha Johnson hit some big shots and were able to slip past AlexiAnn Drouin and Margo Muller by the final of 6-4. Quinde and Johnson have been a solid pairing in doubles this season as well, earning their eighth win of 2018. Rolim and freshman Mirna Golac traded point for point with Jenay Andrews and Allison Grandfield on the way to a 7-6 decision in the win column in No. 3 doubles. They were able to secure their third win as a doubles team in 2018.

Three of the six singles matches would carry into a third set on Saturday with the Huskies prevailing in each of them. Gorgioski was able to pick up a point for Tech in two sets against Drouin. Gorgioski hung on in set one for a 7-6 win and then used that momentum to pull away for a 6-1 victory in the second set in the No. 1 spot in the lineup. The decision also gave Gorgioski her 10th win of the season in singles competition.

In No. 2 singles, Brown went three sets against Koua, bouncing back from a set one loss to prevail 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Brown came through in the clutch to not only force a third set, but ultimately pull out the overall win. She leads the Huskies this year with 11 overall singles victories.

Johnson anchored the No. 3 singles position on Saturday and claimed a two set win over Harvey 6-4, 6-1. Johnson joined Brown and Gorgioski in double digit win totals with 10. The No. 4 singles spot was also tightly contest as Quinde defeated Muller 6-2, 2-6, and 6-4 on Senior Day. Quinde picked up her ninth singles win and will look for he 10th next weekend in the GLIAC Tournament.

Golac and junior Anabella Neri rounded out the singles lineup on Saturday, with each player tacking on points for the Huskies. Golac won a hard fought match in the No. 5 spot against Malpass, battling back from a one set deficit. Golac fell 6-3 in set one before storming back with a 6-0 win in set two to force a third. Golac pulled away by the final of 10-5, clinching her sixth win of the 2018 season.

Neri played in the No. 6 spot and established a foothold with a 6-0 victory in the first set against Allison Grandfield. She then created distance in the second set after a close start to win 6-3. Her two set victory was her ninth overall singles win of the season.

The Huskies have clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming GLIAC Tournament, which starts on Friday at the Greater Midland Tennis Center in Midland, Michigan. Tech is guaranteed three matches as they look to close out the fall portion of the schedule strong. Match times and opponents are still to be determined.