WKU Tennis gave defending MAC Champion Ball State all they could handle Monday evening, but the Cardinals pulled out the victory in nail-biting fashion defeating the Lady Toppers, 4-3, inside the Adams Tennis Complex.
WKU (6-3) lost its first match in over a month and Ball State (10-2) moves to 4-0 all-time against the Lady Toppers.
WKU began Monday’s match by dropping the doubles point at the No. 1 and 2 spots. The four-match winning streak of freshmen duo Natalia De Ugarte and Cindy Oest came to end to the hands of BSU’s Carmen Blanco and Peyton Gollhofer, 6-2. Ball State’s tandem of Audrey Berger and Julia Sbircea followed by defeating seniors Andreanna Christopoulou and Elpida Malamou, 6-3, to earn the doubles point.
In singles action, WKU rallied and captured the lead with two wins on courts one and four. Freshman Monica Malinen at the four spot got the momentum going as she downed Isabelle Dohanics 6-1, 6-2. At the No. 1 position, Elpida Malamou won in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 to push her singles winning streak, dating back to last year, to 21 matches. The Cardinals would respond with Toni Armond outlasting Cindy Oest 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to tie the match 2-2.
Violetta Shatalova was victorious at the No. 6 spot over Rebecca Herrington 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 to regain the Lady Topper lead 3-2. With the pressure on the Cardinals, Ball State fought back and won the final two matches to claim the victory.
WKU will be back in action on Saturday as the Lady Toppers hit the road to the Golden State clashing against Santa Clara at 1 p.m. CT for their first match of the spring break trip.
Singles
1. Elpida Malamou (WKU) def. Carmen Blanco (BSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. Peyton Gollhofer (BSU) def. Andreanna Christopoulou (WKU) 6-7, 7-5, 6-2
3. Toni Ormond (BSU) def. Cindy Oest (WKU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
4. Monica Malinen (WKU) def. Isabelle Dohanics (BSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Audrey Berger (BSU) def. Natalia De Ugarte (WKU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
6. Violetta Shatalova (WKU) def. Rebecca Herrington (BSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. Berger/Sbircea (BSU) def. Christopoulou/Malamou (WKU) 6-3
2. Blanco/Gollhofer (BSU) def. Oest/De Ugarte (WKU) 6-2
3. Shatalova/Malinen (WKU) vs. Herrington/Dohanics (BSU) 5-4, unfinished
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Tennis, follow the program via social media @WKUTennis on Twitter.
-@WKUSports-
Lance Dozier
WKU Athletic Communications Assistant