Brendan Baker Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant (Tennis, Cross Country, Track & Field, Swimming & Diving) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Brendan Baker Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant (Tennis, Cross Country, Track & Field, Swimming & Diving) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Wayne State University's women's tennis team concluded their season with a 4-0 defeat against Nova Southeastern in the NCAA Division 2 quarterfinals at Sanlando Park. The Warriors, ranked 21st and seeded seventh, ended tied-for-fifth in the nation for the second consecutive year. This loss to the Sharks halted WSU's 13-match winning streak.
In doubles play, Nova Southeastern secured victories at first and third doubles to earn the doubles point. The second-ranked Shark duo of Freya Davies and Natalie Espinal defeated Wayne State's Anais Ruyssen and Marta Komar, who were ranked 25th, with a score of 6-4. Meanwhile, WSU's Dea Gorgidze and Justine Beaulieu fell to Ita Habekovic and Patricie Kubikova with a score of 7-5 at No. 3 doubles. At second doubles, Malak Arafat and Martyna Szpakowska were level at 5-5 when play was suspended.
In singles matches, Espinal triumphed over Ruyssen with scores of 6-0, 6-3 at first singles, extending NSU's lead to 2-0. Lexi Weir followed up with a win against Arafat at No. 2 singles by scoring 6-4, 6-3. Davies clinched the victory for NSU by defeating Komar at third singles with scores of 7-5, 6-0.
Szpakowska won her first set (6-3) against Lian Benedejcic at fourth singles before the match was stopped due to NSU securing overall victory. In other ongoing matches that were left unfinished due to the overall result being decided, Gorgidze led her second set after losing the first set (6-4), while Beaulieu also led her second set after dropping her initial set (6-2).