Story by Adam Redfern
Staff writer
aredfern@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s women’s tennis team continued its fall season as they competed in the Ball State Invitational on Sept. 21-22.
“I feel like we played better last tournament, but we competed better this tournament,” said Head Coach Jorge Caetano. “I think that is the key for us. Just for us to go out there and compete. Even though we didn’t play our best tennis, we were able to win a lot of matches.”
On Sept. 21, the Racers faced off against Dayton University, where they won five out of six singles matches.
However, Murray State struggled to pick up a match against the hosts of the tournament, with Ball State picking up all six matches.
In doubles on Friday, junior Anja Loncarevic and sophomore Staysa Sharapova won over University of Detroit Mercy, while senior Amina Hadzic and junior Sara Loncarevic dropped their set.
Saturday started with doubles for the Racers against Dayton University, where Anja Loncarevic and Sharapova and Hadzic and Sara Loncarevic saw success. Unfortunately, senior Jeanne Masson and sophomore Aarja Chakraborty fell just short of sweeping Dayton for all three matches.
“The best improvement was on doubles,” Caetano said. “We have been working a lot during practice and they were actually trying to do the things that we have worked on.”
When Murray State faced off against Ball State in doubles, only Sara Loncarevic and Hadzic won their set 6-4, with the two other doubles teams losing.
The Racers capped their trip off with by splitting with Detroit Mercy in singles. Hadzic and Sara Loncarevic both topped their opponents.
Murray State will return home and host the MSU Fall Invitational on Oct. 5-6 at the Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts.
Friday
Murray State x University of Detroit Mercy – Doubles
#1- A. Loncarevic/S. Sharapova (MSU) def. J. Apawti/C. Apawti (UDM) – 6-2
#2- I. Thioux/K. Providokhina (UDM) def. A. Hadzic/S. Loncarevic (MSU) – 6-4
Murray State x University of Dayton – Singles
#1- S. Sharapova (MSU) def. Mattea Kilstofte (UD) – 6-3, 6-0
#2- A. Hadzic (MSU) def. Kelly Pleiman (UD) – 6-0, 7-5
#3- A. Loncarevic (MSU) def. Emily Zargham (UD) – 6-3, 6-4
#4- S. Loncarevic (MSU) def. Natalie Allen (UD) – 6-1, 6-3
#5- A. Delaney (UD) def. A. Chakraborty (MSU) – 6-1, 6-1
#6- J. Masson (MSU) def. M. Brascia (UD) – 6-2, 4-6, 10-6
Murray State x Ball State – Singles
#1- S. Swiderski (BSU) def. A. Loncarevic (MSU) – 7-6, 6-1
#2- V. Sec (BSU) def. S. Sharapova (MSU) – 7-5, 7-6
#3- A. Berger (BSU) def. S. Loncarevic (MSU) – 6-3, 6-1
#4- P. Gollhoffer (BSU) def. A. Hadzic (MSU) – 7-6, 2-6, 11-9
#5- R. Herrington (BSU) def. J. Masson (MSU) – 6-3, 6-1
#6- I. Dohanics (BSU) def. A. Chakraborty (MSU) – 6-2, 6-3
Saturday
Murray State x University of Dayton – Doubles
#1- A. Loncarevic/S. Sharapova (MSU) def. M. Kilstofte/Delaney (UD) – 6-1
#2- A. Hadzic/S.Loncarevic (MSU) def. K. Pleiman/N. Allen (UD) – 6-2
#3- Z. Woods/K. Benjamin (UD) def. J. Masson/A. Chakraborty (MSU) – 7-5
Murray State x Ball State – Doubles
#1- A. Berger/V. Sec (BSU) def. A. Loncarevic/S. Sharapova (MSU) – 6-1
#2- A. Hadzic/S.Loncarevic (MSU) def. S. Swiderski/I. Dohanics (BSU) – 6-4
#3- R. Herrington/L. Hadab (BSU) def. J. Masson/A. Chakraborty (MSU) – 6-1
Murray State x University of Detroit Mercy – Singles
#1- J. Apawti (UDM) def. S. Sharapova (MSU) – 6-0, 7-5
#2- A. Hadzic (MSU) def. I. Thioux (UDM) – 6-3, 2-6, 10-5
#3- C. Apawti (UDM) def. J. Masson (MSU) – 6-2, 6-2
#4- S.Loncarevic (MSU) def. K. Providokhina (UDM) – 6-2, 6-1