SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Following the opening day of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships in Springfield, Missouri, the Belmont University women's tennis team is in contention for two singles and two doubles titles. The Bruins claimed six combined match wins between singles and doubles Friday at Missouri State's Cooper Tennis Complex.
Both sophomore
Mariia Hlahola and freshman
Vesa Gjinaj propelled themselves into the semifinals in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles flights, respectively, with first-round wins. The pair are also in the semifinals in the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles brackets after the first day of action.
Alongside junior
Anastasiya Zholdakova, Hlahola secured an 8-6 win over Valparaiso's Olivia Czerwonka and Moira Silva in the top doubles flight during the morning's opening round. With partner and fellow freshman
Hana Sokolovic, Gjinaj got past Northern Iowa's Lasya Mylavarapu and Kim Zizek in the first round of the No. 2 doubles flight.
In the top singles bracket, Hlahola defeated Bradley's Andra Sirbu 6-3, 6-3 while Gjinaj was leading the Beacons' Silva 6-1, 4-1 before she had to retire.
Junior
Aly Getty received a default to reach the quarterfinals of the No. 5 singles flight before falling to the bracket's top seed, Murray State's Annika Pschorr.
Sophomore
Libbie Hamilton played her way into the quarterfinals of the No. 6 singles flight with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph against Drake's Nicole Lee, but was handed a 6-3, 6-4 loss by the Racers' Natalie Slezakova.
The three-day tournament continues Saturday morning beginning with doubles and singles non-championship draw play. Due to chilly temperatures overnight, first serves are slated for 10 a.m.
Belmont's full results from Friday can be found below.
No. 1 Doubles Flight
Mariia Hlahola/
Anastasiya Zholdakova (Belmont) def. Olivia Czerwonka/Moira Silva (Valparaiso) 8-6
No. 2 Doubles Flight
Vesa Gjinaj/
Hana Sokolovic (Belmont) def. Lasya Mylavarapu/Kim Zizek (Northern Iowa) 8-4
No. 3 Doubles Flight
Anna Belogliadova/Alexandra Hildreth (Bradley) def.
Viktoria Kliimand/
Aly Getty (Belmont) 8-4
No. 1 Singles Flight
Mariia Hlahola (Belmont) def. Andra Sirbu (Bradley) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Singles Flight
Vesa Gjinaj (Belmont) def. Moira Silva (Valparaiso) 6-1, 4-1 (default-injury)
No. 3 Singles Flight
Camille Belberka (UIC) def.
Hana Sokolovic (Belmont) 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 Singles Flight
Mayu Ushio (UIC) def.
Viktoria Kliimand (Belmont) 3-6, 7-5, 6-0
No. 5 Singles Flight
Aly Getty (Belmont) def. Nicole Ross (Missouri State) by default (injury)
Annika Pschorr (Murray State) def.
Aly Getty (Belmont) 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 Singles Flight
Libbie Hamilton (Belmont) def. Nicole Lee (Drake) 6-3, 6-3
Natalie Slezakova (Murray State) def.
Libbie Hamilton (Belmont) 6-3, 6-4
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