Women's Tennis Unable to Get Past WKU in 5-2 Affair Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite winning the coveted doubles point, the Belmont University women's tennis team fell 5-2 to Western Kentucky University late Friday afternoon at the Ensworth Tennis Center in the Music City. The Bruins (1-5) secured wins at the top two doubles spots and senior Anastasiya Zholdakova was victorious at No. 1 singles, but it wasn't quite enough against the visiting Lady Toppers (5-3).
 
The duo of senior Viktoria Kliimand and sophomore Hana Sokolovic earned an impressive 6-2 triumph over WKU's Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova at second doubles. Blanco and Hermanova entered the weekend ranked 85th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings.
 
With the Lady Toppers taking No. 3 doubles 6-0, the tandem of Zholdakova and fellow senior Aly Getty took control at the top doubles spot against WKU's Mia Miranda and Emily Schut. On serve at 5-4, Zholdakova and Getty broke at 6-5 to clinch the all-important doubles point.
 
Straight-set wins for the Lady Toppers at No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 singles gave WKU a 3-1 lead.
 
On court three, Sokolovic battled the Lady Toppers' Miranda but was edged 7-4 in an opening-set tiebreaker before dropping the second set, 6-3.
 
Both Zholdakova at No. 1 singles and freshman Sarah McElrath at No. 6 singles went to three sets. Zholdakova overcame a 6-3 first-set loss to WKU's Hermanova and won both the second and third sets in convincing fashion, 6-2, 6-2. After taking the opening set, 6-4, against the Lady Toppers' Elizabeth Sobieski, McElrath was unable to win sets two or three. Sobieski held on for a 7-5 win in the third after claiming the second set, 6-2.
 
Up Next
Belmont hosts Southeast Missouri State at the Ensworth Tennis Center Saturday at 5 p.m. Next Saturday, March 1, the Bruins travel to Eastern Kentucky before welcoming Furman to Nashville on Monday, March 3.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont women's tennis on social media – @BelmontWTennis on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontwtennis on Instagram and Belmont Women's Tennis on Facebook – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.