Women's Tennis Earns 4-3 Win over UAB in Season Opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's tennis team edged UAB 4-3 in their season opener held indoors Sunday afternoon at the Ensworth Tennis Center in Nashville.

Belmont picked up the first point of the match as they earned wins at numbers two and three doubles.  Juniors Viki Kliimand and Abi Solomon won at number two with a 6-3 win over Sydney Clarke and Adela Wasserbauerova.  Then at three, freshmen Vesa Gjinaj and Hana Sokolovic defeated Enya Ratkic and Annalisa Smith 6-3. 

UAB won at number one doubles as Vanessa Mellynchuk and Mackenzie White beat sophomore Mariia Hlahola and junior Anastasiya Zholdakova 7-6 (7-5) in a tiebreaker. 

In singles, the Bruins posted wins at positions one, four and five to clinch the 4-3 match win.  At one, Hlahola swept Clarke in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.  Then at four, Gjinaj won easily over Ratkic 6-1, 6-1. 

Then, at five, Kliimand outlasted Annalisa Smith in three sets.  After capturing the first set 6-1, The Estonian dropped the second 6-4, before coming back and winning the third set 6-4 to clinch the match and the team win for the Bruins. 

It was the program's third straight season opening win and the first versus UAB in five meetings with the Blazers. 

Belmont (1-0) is back in action this Friday as they host Tennessee Wesleyan at 6:00pm indoors at the Ensworth Tennis Center. 

Belmont 4, UAB 3
 
Singles competition
1. Mariia Hlahola (BELW) def. Sydney Clarke (UAB) 6-0, 6-1
2. Adela Wasserbauerova (UAB) def. Anastasiya Zholdakova (BELW) 6-2, 6-3
3. Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) def. Abi Solomon (BELW) 6-1, 6-1
4. Vesa Gjinaj (BELW) def. Enya Ratkic (UAB) 6-1, 6-1
5. Viktoria Kliimand (BELW) def. Annalisa Smith (UAB) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
6. Mackenzie White (UAB) def. Hana Sokolovic (BELW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Vanessa Mellynchuk/Mackenzie White (UAB) def. Mariia Hlahola/Anastasiya Zholdakova (BELW) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Viktoria Kliimand/Abi Solomon (BELW) def. Sydney Clarke/Adela Wasserbauerova (UAB) 6-3
3. Vesa Gjinaj/Hana Sokolovic (BELW) def. Enya Ratkic/Annalisa Smith (UAB) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
UAB 0-2
Belmont 1-0
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,2,5,6)