BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - - In highly competitive action, the Belmont University women's tennis team fell to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers by a final score of 6-1.
In doubles down on court three, the Bruins got to see some newly returned Bruins play like veterans. Freshmen Abi Solomon and Anastasiya Zholdakova were linked up as doubles partners for the first time since last October. However, they played like regulars and took down Sofia Blanco and Samantha Martinez. The WKU's third pair were 4-0 before Zholdakova and Solomon earned their first win together in dual spring play.
Meanwhile, WKU's top two duos proved why they are took home identical 6-2 match wins.
After the doubles loss, Belmont did not give up and gave the Hilltoppers some good fights and close finishes. On court one, freshman Gina Feistel came back in set two after trailing 4-5 to take the set and send her match to a tiebreaker. Alas, she fell to 2-5 in the number one spot after losing 10-6 to fellow german Cora-Lynn von Dungern.
Next to Feistel on court two, Somer Henry was pitted against WKU's best singles player, Laura Bernardos. Still, Henry put a scare into the senior from Spain by winning set one. However, Bernardos came back and cleaned up the following two sets to close the book on the match.
The lone point for Belmont was scored on court five by senior Peyton Lee. Lee was tested early in set one, but after the score became 4-3, Lee took over. In two sets, she defeated Taylor Shaw to improve her spring singles' record to a team-best 8-2.
Belmont is 6-5 after this loss split their home-and-away weekend. WKU moves up to 10-4 with the win.
The Bruins will return in two weeks when they host Alabama A&M on Sunday, Mar. 20th, to wrap up non-conference play.
DOUBLES
P. Cortez/C. von Dungern def. G. Feistel/M. Roberts (BU) - 6-2
L. Bernardos/M. Zegada def. S. Henry/P. Lee - 6-2
A. Solomon/A. Zholdakova (BU) def. S. Blanco/S. Martinez - 6-3
SINGLES
Cora-Lynn von Dungern def. Gina Feistel (BU) - 6-4, 5-7, 10-6
Laura Bernardos def. Somer Henry (BU) - 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Paola Cortez def. Abi Solomon (BU) - 6-4, 6-4
Rachel Hermanova def. Anastasiya Zholdakova (BU) - 6-1, 6-4
Peyton Lee (BU) def. Taylor Shaw - 6-3, 6-1
Sofia Blanco def. Meredith Roberts (BU) - 6-4, 6-4
Follow Belmont Women's Tennis on social media - @BelmontTennis on Twitter and @belmontwomenstennis on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
#ItsBruinTime #UnleashTheBeast
