Women's Tennis Closes Out Weekend Versus Lady Toppers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A shorthanded Belmont University women's tennis team fought to the very end Sunday against visiting Western Kentucky University but was unable to collect the needed four points in a 5-2 setback at the Ensworth Tennis Center. Despite being down two players, the Bruins (2-3) pulled out wins at the top two singles positions and the top doubles spot as No. 3 and No. 4 singles both went to three sets.
 
The Lady Toppers (5-3) earned the key doubles point and collected singles wins at the No. 3-6 positions.
 
Freshman Mariia Hlahola continued her incredible collegiate start while sophomore Abi Solomon was also undefeated on the day. The two teamed up at No. 1 doubles for a convincing 6-1 win over WKU's Paola Cortez and Samantha Martinez.
 
The Lady Toppers' Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova clinched the doubles point at the No. 2 spot, getting a 6-4 win against graduate student Meredith Roberts and senior Taylor Trondson. At No. 3 doubles, sophomore Aly Getty and freshman Libbie Hamilton were handed a 6-1 loss by WKU's Sayda Hernandez and Mariana Zegada.
 
Hlahola dismissed Cortez 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, but the visitors took a 2-1 lead in the match when Zegada got past Getty at No. 6 singles, 7-5, 6-0.
 
Solomon was also a straight-set winner, defeating Hernandez 7-6 (5), 6-4 at No. 2 singles.
 
After the Lady Toppers went up 3-2 following a No. 5 singles triumph by WKU's Sunskrithi Damera over Hamilton (6-3, 6-1), the match came down to the No. 3 and No. 4 singles positions.
 
Roberts battled Hermanova at the No. 3 spot where she took the opening set 6-4 but couldn't get the second set in a tightly-contested 7-5 set two loss. Hermanova then hastily won the third set 6-1 after the match had been decided at No. 4 singles.
 
Trondson likewise won her first set against Blanco, 7-5, but fell 6-1, 6-1 in the second and third sets.
 
Up Next
After playing four of its first five matches of the season at home, Belmont begins a strenuous five-match road stretch next weekend in the Magnolia State. The Bruins face Southeastern Conference mainstays Mississippi State Friday and Ole Miss Saturday. Friday's match against the Bulldogs will see an 11 a.m. first serve, while Saturday's match against the Rebels will start at 1 p.m.
 
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