Wednesday, March 21
Omaha, Neb.
12:30 PM
Creighton University
4
vs
3
South Dakota
Photo by: Joe Willman
Women's Tennis Fights Off Rally, Defeats South Dakota 4-3
3/21/2018 4:08:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Creighton continues its unbeaten March, winning its last six contests
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton women's tennis match against South Dakota came down to the wire, as the Bluejays were able to scrape a narrow 4-3 victory over the Coyotes.
The Bluejays move to 11-4 on the season, including a 6-0 record in the month of March. The Creighton women have won 11 of their last 13 matches after falling to a 0-2 hole to start the season.
Going into the final decision tied at three apiece, Creighton's Claire Embree and South Dakota's Luana Stanciu were the deciders in which team would leave with the victory. Embree opened with a 6-3 decision before Stanciu responded with a 6-3 of her own to force a third set. Embree never looked back as she cruised to a 6-2 result during the No. 5 singles match and secured the match for the Bluejays.
Creighton started off on the right foot, with the duo of Erin Epperson and Embree grabbing a 6-1 result at the No. 2 doubles position before Darby Rosette and Kendra Lavallee sealed the doubles point at the No. 3 spot, winning 6-4 and halting action at the No. 1 before the start of singles play.
"We played within ourselves during the doubles, but also made sure to be the team that was more active and energetic," head coach Tom Lilly said.
Celine Massereau kept the Bluejays on track with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 position. After falling in the No. 2 spot, Creighton responded with a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) decision from Ashley Ishimura at the No. 1. The Coyotes responded with back-to-back wins at No. 4 and No. 3, with 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 scores respectively that pushed the team score to 3-3, coming down to Embree at No. 5 to give Creighton a win in dramatic fashion.
"This was a strong win against a very good South Dakota side," Lilly said. "We knew coming in that this would be extremely competitive and that means the doubles point is important.
"We are getting production from everyone and it's nice to know that it can be different players each time out."
Creighton heads on the road this weekend for a Saturday matchup against Colorado State before taking on Wyoming on Sunday.
Creighton 4, South Dakota 3
Mar 21, 2018 at Omaha, Neb. (Hanscom Tennis Center)
The Bluejays move to 11-4 on the season, including a 6-0 record in the month of March. The Creighton women have won 11 of their last 13 matches after falling to a 0-2 hole to start the season.
Going into the final decision tied at three apiece, Creighton's Claire Embree and South Dakota's Luana Stanciu were the deciders in which team would leave with the victory. Embree opened with a 6-3 decision before Stanciu responded with a 6-3 of her own to force a third set. Embree never looked back as she cruised to a 6-2 result during the No. 5 singles match and secured the match for the Bluejays.
Creighton started off on the right foot, with the duo of Erin Epperson and Embree grabbing a 6-1 result at the No. 2 doubles position before Darby Rosette and Kendra Lavallee sealed the doubles point at the No. 3 spot, winning 6-4 and halting action at the No. 1 before the start of singles play.
"We played within ourselves during the doubles, but also made sure to be the team that was more active and energetic," head coach Tom Lilly said.
Celine Massereau kept the Bluejays on track with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 position. After falling in the No. 2 spot, Creighton responded with a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) decision from Ashley Ishimura at the No. 1. The Coyotes responded with back-to-back wins at No. 4 and No. 3, with 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 scores respectively that pushed the team score to 3-3, coming down to Embree at No. 5 to give Creighton a win in dramatic fashion.
"This was a strong win against a very good South Dakota side," Lilly said. "We knew coming in that this would be extremely competitive and that means the doubles point is important.
"We are getting production from everyone and it's nice to know that it can be different players each time out."
Creighton heads on the road this weekend for a Saturday matchup against Colorado State before taking on Wyoming on Sunday.
Creighton 4, South Dakota 3
Mar 21, 2018 at Omaha, Neb. (Hanscom Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Ashley Ishimura (CU) def. Lazarevic,Jana (USD) 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5) |
| 2. Kollarova,Barbora (USD) def. Michaela Henne (CU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) |
| 3. Aly,Habiba (USD) def. Erin Epperson (CU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 4. Bondarenko,Anastasia (USD) def. Darby Rosette (CU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 5. Claire Embree (CU) def. Stanciu,Luana (USD) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 6. Celine Massereau (CU) def. Chemodanova,Aria (USD) 6-2, 6-1 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Ashley Ishimura/Michaela Henne (CU) vs. Lazarevic,Jana/Bondarenko,Anastasia (USD) 5-4, unfinished |
| 2. Erin Epperson/Claire Embree (CU) def. Kollarova,Barbora/Nylund,Nanette (USD) 6-1 |
| 3. Darby Rosette/Kendra Lavallee (CU) def. Stanciu,Luana/Aly,Habiba (USD) 6-4 |
| Match Notes |
| South Dakota 8-9 |
| Creighton 11-4 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,2,1,4,3,5) |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
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