Top-Seeded Murray State Upends Women’s Tennis in MVC Championship Semis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Unable to recover from a 1-0 deficit following doubles play, the Belmont University women's tennis team fell 4-1 to top-seeded regular season champion Murray State in the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Tennis Championship semifinals Saturday at the Beaman Family Tennis Complex. The Bruins collected a singles win on court five courtesy of junior Aly Getty and were on the brink of taking No. 2 singles when the Racers (16-5) clinched the match.
 
Junior Viktoria Kliimand and freshman Vesa Gjinaj were Belmont's lone bright spot in doubles play as the duo defeated Murray State's Annika Pschorr and Sarah Bureau 6-2 at the No. 2 spot.
 
At No. 1 doubles, the Racers' Natalie Slezakova and Emma Honore topped sophomore Mariia Hlahola and junior Anastasiya Zholdakova 6-3. Murray State earned the doubles point when Paola Campigotto and Marit Kreugel bested freshman Hana Sokolovic and Getty 6-2 on court three.
 
Kreugel put the Racers up 2-0 with a straight-set, 6-1, 6-2 win over Sokolovic at No. 6 singles before Honore got past Zholdakova 6-2, 6-4 on court three.
 
Despite trailing 3-0, the Bruins looked poised for a comeback attempt. Getty took command at No. 5 singles, dismissing Pschorr 7-5, 6-0. Nearly getting to the finish line at No. 2 singles, Gjinaj led Bureau 6-3, 5-2 when the match went final.
 
On court four, Kliimand split sets with Murray State's Varya Alexeyeva. After dropping the opening set, 6-1, Kliimand took the second set, 6-4. However, the two didn't start the third set when the Racers claimed the needed fourth point.
 
Valeria Chaikovskaia sealed it for Murray State at the top singles spot when she closed out a 6-3, 6-3 win against Hlahola.
 
The postseason loss brings an end to Belmont's campaign. The Bruins finish 2024 with a 13-10 record on the year, the 13 match victories tying the most in a single season since 2004. Belmont also reached the 13-win mark in 2022.
 
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