Huskies Claim 6-1 Win over Saginaw Valley State
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women's tennis team secured win number two of the weekend with a 6-1 decision over Saginaw Valley State University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match at the Gates Tennis Center Sunday. The Huskies opened the home slate of contests with a 5-2 win against Northwood on Saturday.
"Saginaw Valley State is always a tough team to play," Michigan Tech Head Coach Kevin Kalinec said. "They compete with a lot of energy and make you work. I was really proud of our players and the effort they gave in today's match. I was happy with how our team overcame some of the energy that Saginaw Valley State brought today and performed well in crucial situations throughout the match.
"We have two more big road matches coming up next weekend at Ferris State and Grand Valley State. Both teams are very strong and they are going to push us and we are going to push them. Our players are excited and ready to compete next weekend."
Michigan Tech (4-1, 4-1 GLIAC) started strong again in doubles on Sunday, taking victories in all three spots of the lineup. Junior Ivona Gorgioski and sophomore Jessica Brown prevailed 7-5 in a back and forth battle in No. 1 doubles against Maddie Miller and Taylor McLaughlin. In No. 2 doubles, freshmen Dominika Bobik and Lauren Opalewski swept the duo of Joanne Gao and Gyselle Gutierrez 6-0. Freshman Neva Manas and sophomore Samantha Johnson teamed up to edge Adiya Young and Nicole Johnson of Saginaw Valley State (2-4, 2-4 GLIAC) in No. 3 doubles 6-4.
Leading 1-0 going into the singles portion of the contest, the Huskies kept rolling with Gorgioski claiming a 6-4, 6-2 win over Miller in the No. 1 position in the lineup. Bobik picked up another solid victory by flying past McLaughlin 6-0, 6-1 in No.3 singles while Manas held on for a 6-2, 7-6 win over Gutierrez in No.4 singles Sunday.
Tech's other two points in Sunday's match were generated in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles spots. Opalewski recorded a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sara Neves at the five position while sophomore Mirna Golac powered past Nicole Johnson 6-2, 6-3 in the number six spot of the lineup. Gao had the only point of the day for the Cardinals with a win in No. 2 singles.
The Huskies are back on the road next Saturday and Sunday to play Grand Valley State and Ferris State in two more GLIAC matches. Tech faces Grand Valley State at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday followed by the battle with Ferris State Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
