NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Both sophomore
Mariia Hlahola and freshman
Vesa Gjinaj were impressive Saturday against Missouri Valley Conference leader Murray State, but it wasn't enough in the Belmont University women's tennis team's regular season home finale. The visiting Racers (12-5, 5-0 MVC) remained unbeaten in the Valley with a 5-2 win over the host Bruins (10-9, 3-3 MVC) at the Beaman Family Tennis Complex.
Inspired by its sweep of doubles, Murray State claimed straight-set singles wins at the No. 3-6 positions.
Hlahola was victorious at the top singles spot for Belmont's second point of the day as she topped the Racers' Valeria Chaikovskaia 6-3, 7-5. Dominant on court two, Gjinaj gave the Bruins their first point of the match with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win against Murray State's Sarah Bureau.
The Racers clinched the match with a 6-1, 7-5 win by Emma Honore at No. 3 singles. Murray State took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph by Varya Alexeyeva at No. 4 singles before Gjinaj got Belmont on the board.
At No. 6 singles, the Racers' Natalie Slezakova defeated sophomore
Libbie Hamilton 6-0, 6-4 and Murray State's Marit Kreugel closed out the afternoon with a 6-1, 6-3 win over freshman
Hana Sokolovic at the fifth spot.
In doubles play, the Bruins were handed 6-4 losses at all three positions. The Racers' Honore and Slezakova bested Hlahola and junior
Anastasiya Zholdakova at the top spot, while Murray State's Annika Pschorr and Bureau defeated junior
Viktoria Kliimand and Gjinaj at No. 2 doubles. On court three, Sokolovic and junior
Aly Getty were outdone by the Racers' Kreugel and Alexeyeva.
Up Next
Belmont returns to match action next weekend in Iowa. The Bruins face Northern Iowa next Saturday in Cedar Falls, before traveling to Des Moines next Sunday, April 21 to take on Drake. The 2024 MVC Women's Tennis Championship will be hosted by Belmont Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 in the Music City.
Follow Belmont women's tennis on social media –
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