Saturday, January 26
Des Moines, IA
1 PM
Creighton University
4
at
3
Drake
Photo by: A.J. Olnes
Women's Tennis Secures First Win Of Season, 4-3 at Drake
1/26/2019 4:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Creighton women's tennis team secured its first win of the 2019 dual season on Saturday, 4-3 against Drake at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Bluejays improved to 1-2 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-3.
The victory also marked Creighton's first team victory against Drake in program history.
The Bluejays rallied from behind during doubles play to earn the first point of the afternoon. Drake claimed the top doubles position, 6-3, before Creighton's No. 3 duo of Erin Epperson and Claire Embree won by a similar score of 6-3 to even the tilt. Gabby O'Connor and Michaela Henne paired up for a narrow 6-4 win at the No. 2 slot as the Bluejays claimed the first point of the dual.
O'Connor gave Creighton a 2-1 overall lead with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 singles position. Drake gained the dual lead with straight-sets wins at the No. 2 and 3 slots, but the Bluejays responded.
Embree won 6-4, 6-3 in the fifth slot to tie the overall match and Epperson clinched the dual with a three-set win at the No. 4 singles position. The sophomore opened the match with a 6-2 decision during the first set but fell 6-2 in the second frame. Epperson bounced back for a 6-2 win in the deciding third set as Creighton gained its fourth point of the day for the team victory.
Drake closed the final margin to one with a three-set victory at the top slot.
"Today the girls fought and supported each other at a very high level," head coach Tom Lilly said. "This was a big win over a very good Drake team. Hopefully we can used this momentum going into the next matches."
Creighton returns to the courts on Feb. 8 and 9 in Springfield, Missouri. The Bluejays will face Missouri State on Feb. 8 before matching up against Western Illinois on Feb. 9 for a neutral site match.
Creighton 4, Drake 3
01/26/19 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center)
The Bluejays improved to 1-2 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-3.
The victory also marked Creighton's first team victory against Drake in program history.
The Bluejays rallied from behind during doubles play to earn the first point of the afternoon. Drake claimed the top doubles position, 6-3, before Creighton's No. 3 duo of Erin Epperson and Claire Embree won by a similar score of 6-3 to even the tilt. Gabby O'Connor and Michaela Henne paired up for a narrow 6-4 win at the No. 2 slot as the Bluejays claimed the first point of the dual.
O'Connor gave Creighton a 2-1 overall lead with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 singles position. Drake gained the dual lead with straight-sets wins at the No. 2 and 3 slots, but the Bluejays responded.
Embree won 6-4, 6-3 in the fifth slot to tie the overall match and Epperson clinched the dual with a three-set win at the No. 4 singles position. The sophomore opened the match with a 6-2 decision during the first set but fell 6-2 in the second frame. Epperson bounced back for a 6-2 win in the deciding third set as Creighton gained its fourth point of the day for the team victory.
Drake closed the final margin to one with a three-set victory at the top slot.
"Today the girls fought and supported each other at a very high level," head coach Tom Lilly said. "This was a big win over a very good Drake team. Hopefully we can used this momentum going into the next matches."
Creighton returns to the courts on Feb. 8 and 9 in Springfield, Missouri. The Bluejays will face Missouri State on Feb. 8 before matching up against Western Illinois on Feb. 9 for a neutral site match.
Creighton 4, Drake 3
01/26/19 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Carmen Palumbo (DU) def. Ashley Ishimura (CU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| 2. Liza Petushkova (DU) def. Sarah Wilcox (CU) 6-3, 6-1 |
| 3. Daria Walczak (DU) def. Michaela Henne (CU) 6-3, 6-0 |
| 4. Erin Epperson (CU) def. Sophia Haleas (DU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 5. Claire Embree (CU) def. Kenya Williams (DU) 6-4, 6-3 |
| 6. Gabby O'Connor (CU) def. Kelsey Neville (DU) 6-1, 6-1 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Liza Petushkova/Kenya Williams (DU) def. Ashley Ishimura/Sarah Wilcox (CU) 6-3 |
| 2. Gabby O'Connor/Michaela Henne (CU) def. Carmen Palumbo/Daria Walczak (DU) 6-4 |
| 3. Erin Epperson/Claire Embree (CU) def. Kelsey Neville/Sophia Haleas (DU) 6-3 |
| Match Notes |
| Creighton 1-2 |
| Drake 0-3 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,3,5,4,1) |
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
#1 Singles Match
123
614
Carmen Palumbo / 0 [DU]
466
#2 Singles Match
12
31
Liza Petushkova / 0 [DU]
66
#3 Singles Match
12
30
Daria Walczak / 0 [DU]
66
#4 Singles Match
123
626
Sophia Haleas / 0 [DU]
262
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Kenya Williams / 0 [DU]
43
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Kelsey Neville / 0 [DU]
11
Order of Finish:
6,2,3,5,4,1
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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