Women's Tennis Edges Valparaiso 4-3 for First-Ever MVC Victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University women's tennis team is off to a 1-0 start in Missouri Valley Conference play following a thrilling 4-3 home victory over Valparaiso Sunday afternoon indoors at the Ensworth Tennis Center. Graduate student Meredith Roberts won the deciding point at No. 5 singles in a tightly-contested three-set match for the Bruins' first-ever MVC win.
 
With dominant wins at the top two doubles positions, Belmont (4-10, 1-0 MVC) needed just three singles victories to secure the match. Straight-set triumphs from freshman Mariia Hlahola and sophomore Anastasiya Zholdakova at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively, set up Roberts for the clinching match at the fifth spot.
 
The visiting Beacons (0-2 MVC) entered Sunday 9-3 overall on the season.
 
The Bruins won identical 6-2 sets at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles as the nationally-ranked duo of Hlahola and Zholdakova defeated Valparaiso's Olivia Czerwonka and Moira Silva at the top spot and sophomores Viktoria Kliimand and Abi Solomon bested the Beacons' Elizabeth Sobieski and Amanda Tabanera at the second spot.
 
At No. 3 doubles, Valparaiso's Eleanor Chapman and Demi Jhaveri topped sophomore Aly Getty and senior Taylor Trondson 6-1.
 
Hlahola gave Belmont its first singles point with a strong 7-5, 6-2 win against the Beacons' Czerwonka at the No. 1 position. However, Valparaiso quickly got on the board with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles courtesy of Tabanera over Kliimand.
 
The Bruins went up 3-1 in the match with Zholdakova putting together the most convincing singles win for Belmont as she took down the Beacons' Jhaveri 6-3, 6-4 at the third flight.
 
At the second singles spot, Solomon forced a third set against Valparaiso's Silva with a 6-4 set two win after dropping the opening set 6-3. Despite Solomon's efforts, Silva prevailed in the third set, 6-0.
 
With the Bruins leading 3-2 and needing one more point, Roberts was in the early stages of a third set at No. 5 singles. Battling the Beacons' Chapman, Roberts won the first set 6-4 before Chapman returned the favor with a 6-4 second set. In the all-important third set, Roberts got a service break midway through and closed out the match 6-3.
 
Valparaiso's third singles win came at the No. 6 spot where Mia Bertino got past Getty, 6-0, 6-2, after the match was decided.
 
Up Next
Belmont makes its first road trip in the Valley next weekend. The Bruins head to Missouri State next Saturday for a 10 a.m. match in Springfield, Missouri, before taking on Murray State next Sunday in Kentucky at 1 p.m.
 
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