Monday, March 5
Orlando, Fla.
7:45 AM
Creighton University
6
vs
1
Western Carolina
Photo by: Joe Willman
Women's Tennis Wraps Up Day One In Florida With Two Wins
3/5/2018 11:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
6-1 decisions against Western Carolina and John Carroll give Creighton hot start in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Creighton women's tennis team opened their Florida trip with a 2-0 start on Monday in Orlando.
In morning action, the Bluejays defeated Western Carolina in a 6-1 contest.
After falling at the No. 1 spot in doubles action, victories by Erin Epperson and Claire Embree at the No. 2 (6-2) and by duo Michaela Henne and Celine Massereau at No. 3 (6-4) saw the Bluejays take the doubles point going into singles action.
Creighton was able to match the early momentum in singles, as Ashley Ishimura scored a quick 6-2, 6-4 result. Continuing the winning ways, Epperson closed at the No. 4 spot with a 7-5, 6-2, and Embree's 6-4, 6-1 result at the No. 5 spot clinched the victory for Creighton. Michaela Henne and Laura Higueras closed the morning with three-set victories to finish the match at 6-1.
"This was a strong start to our outdoor season. Tennis matches can be significantly different going from inside to outdoors and to beat a quality program like Western Carolina in the first one was great." head coach Tom Lilly said. "We will need to work very hard to get the results we want."
Creighton continued where they started the day in the second contest of the day against John Carroll, taking another 6-1 victory to go to 7-4 on the season.
A sweep in doubles action got the Bluejays rolling early, as Epperson/Embree at No. 2 and Henne/Rosette at No. 1 took 6-1 and 7-5 victories, respectively, to seal the doubles point, while Massereau and Kendra Lavallee took a 6-1 win as well.
An Epperson victory at No. 2 (6-1, 6-1) got Creighton started in singles play, while Lavallee cleaned up in the No. 6 spot with 6-0, 6-1 victories to inch the Bluejays to one win to clinch the overall match. Embree answered the call with a 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 to seal the day with two wins for the Jays. Wins from Ishimura and Higueras gave a 6-0 advantage for the Bluejays.
In her first singles match back from a hip surgery, senior Ashley Monaco fell in dramatic fashion. After falling 6-7 in the first set, Monaco rallied to win the second set 6-4. Going straight to tiebreaker for the deciding set, it would take a scoreline of 19-17 to decide the match, with Monaco suffering the dramatic loss.
Creighton continues play in Orlando on Tuesday against Sacred Heart.
Creighton 6, Western Carolina 1
Mar 05, 2018 at Orlando, Fla. (USTA Campus)
Creighton 6, John Carroll 1
Mar 05, 2018 at Orlando, Fla.
In morning action, the Bluejays defeated Western Carolina in a 6-1 contest.
After falling at the No. 1 spot in doubles action, victories by Erin Epperson and Claire Embree at the No. 2 (6-2) and by duo Michaela Henne and Celine Massereau at No. 3 (6-4) saw the Bluejays take the doubles point going into singles action.
Creighton was able to match the early momentum in singles, as Ashley Ishimura scored a quick 6-2, 6-4 result. Continuing the winning ways, Epperson closed at the No. 4 spot with a 7-5, 6-2, and Embree's 6-4, 6-1 result at the No. 5 spot clinched the victory for Creighton. Michaela Henne and Laura Higueras closed the morning with three-set victories to finish the match at 6-1.
"This was a strong start to our outdoor season. Tennis matches can be significantly different going from inside to outdoors and to beat a quality program like Western Carolina in the first one was great." head coach Tom Lilly said. "We will need to work very hard to get the results we want."
Creighton continued where they started the day in the second contest of the day against John Carroll, taking another 6-1 victory to go to 7-4 on the season.
A sweep in doubles action got the Bluejays rolling early, as Epperson/Embree at No. 2 and Henne/Rosette at No. 1 took 6-1 and 7-5 victories, respectively, to seal the doubles point, while Massereau and Kendra Lavallee took a 6-1 win as well.
An Epperson victory at No. 2 (6-1, 6-1) got Creighton started in singles play, while Lavallee cleaned up in the No. 6 spot with 6-0, 6-1 victories to inch the Bluejays to one win to clinch the overall match. Embree answered the call with a 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 to seal the day with two wins for the Jays. Wins from Ishimura and Higueras gave a 6-0 advantage for the Bluejays.
In her first singles match back from a hip surgery, senior Ashley Monaco fell in dramatic fashion. After falling 6-7 in the first set, Monaco rallied to win the second set 6-4. Going straight to tiebreaker for the deciding set, it would take a scoreline of 19-17 to decide the match, with Monaco suffering the dramatic loss.
Creighton continues play in Orlando on Tuesday against Sacred Heart.
Creighton 6, Western Carolina 1
Mar 05, 2018 at Orlando, Fla. (USTA Campus)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Ashley Ishimura (CU) def. Jordyn King (WCU) 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2. Michaela Henne (CU) def. Jordan Strickland (WCU) 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3) |
| 3. Lauren McCall (WCU) def. Darby Rosette (CU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 |
| 4. Erin Epperson (CU) def. Savannah Taranto (WCU) 7-5, 6-2 |
| 5. Claire Embree (CU) def. Alexa Webb (WCU) 6-4, 6-1 |
| 6. Laura Higueras (CU) def. Carli Deehr (WCU) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5) |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Savannah Taranto/Jordan Strickland (WCU) def. Darby Rosette/Ashley Ishimura (CU) 6-1 |
| 2. Erin Epperson/Claire Embree (CU) def. Lauren McCall/Jordyn King (WCU) 6-2 |
| 3. Michaela Henne/Celine Massereau (CU) def. Carli Deehr/Caitlin Ward (WCU) 6-4 |
| Match Notes |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,5,3,2,6) |
Creighton 6, John Carroll 1
Mar 05, 2018 at Orlando, Fla.
| Singles competition |
| 1. Ashley Ishimura (CU) def. Lauren O'Malley (JCU) 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2. Erin Epperson (CU) def. Madisyn Rini (JCU) 6-1, 6-1 |
| 3. Claire Embree (CU) def. Nicolette Bourlas (JCU) 6-1, 6-3 |
| 4. Laura Higueras (CU) def. Molly Traverso (JCU) 7-6, 6-0 |
| 5. Alysaa Krupp (JCU) def. Ashley Monaco (CU) 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 (19-17) |
| 6. Kendra Lavallee (CU) def. Jennifer Stroyne (JCU) 6-0, 6-1 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Michaela Henne/Darby Rosette (CU) def. Lauren O'Malley/Madisyn Rini (JCU) 7-5 |
| 2. Erin Epperson/Claire Embree (CU) def. Natalie Bourlas/Nicolette Bourlas (JCU) 6-1 |
| 3. Celine Massereau/Kendra Lavallee (CU) def. Alysaa Krupp/Skye Harwood (JCU) 6-1 |
| Match Notes |
| Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,6,3,1,4,5) |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
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