Simon Elfrink
Staff Writer
selfrink@murraystate.edu
Murray State Tennis took a pair of tough losses against the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Samford University.
The Blazers dominated the Racers 4-0 for the first match of the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 22, keeping the Racers down after the loss against Western Kentucky University a week earlier. The Racers’ luck in doubles matches ran out as the Blazers swept doubles play.
Head Coach Jorge Caetano said the setting was a tough adjustment for the Racers.
“In singles, even though we tried to prepare mentally for outdoor tennis, we just couldn’t execute our strategies well enough,” Caetano said. “Indoors we can make the points short, while outdoors you have to be ready to hit many extra shots to finish the point, and we just couldn’t get it done.”
Singles matches were no more fruitful for the Racers. Even freshman Marit Kreugel’s nine-match win streak in singles came to an end against the Blazers.
“They played a flawless match and didn’t give us anything,” Caetano said. “We just couldn’t hang with them long enough.”
The Racers had more success in the second match of the weekend against Samford University on Sunday, Feb. 23. Still, the Bulldogs had the last laugh and beat the Racers 4-3.
“It was a great battle against Samford and such a close match decided in the details,” Caetano said. “The girls were much more patient building the point, enduring the battle, and they left it all out there. The match came down to a few points that went in their favor, but it was definitely a great test and a big step in the right direction for our team.”
The doubles point bounced in favor of the Bulldogs, but the Racers did up some points in singles play. Kreguel came back and won her match. Seniors Sara and Anja Loncarevic won their matches as well.
Despite the loss, Caetano was pleased with the fight the Racers put up against Samford in the singles matches.
“Sara L. played great singles against Samford,” Caetano said. “It was great to see how she was able to hang in there against a very strong opponent and not hesitate when she had her chances. Anja had a bad first set against UAB, but she found her groove and was dominating the second set when we stopped the match. Against Samford, she kept the same energy, and I loved how focused and tough she was winning most of the long points.”
The Racers look to bounce back and end the three-game losing streak on Friday, Feb. 28. The Racers will play the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana.