Women's Tennis Falls to UIC Saturday at Home

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Running into Missouri Valley Conference leader the University of Illinois Chicago Saturday, the Belmont University women's tennis team was handed a 7-0 loss on campus at the Beaman Family Tennis Complex. The Bruins (2-16, 1-4 MVC) were only able to manage two set wins on the day as the Flames (11-6, 4-0 MVC) swept singles play after claiming the coveted doubles point.
 
With Belmont's top doubles tandem of redshirt freshman Savannah Webster and sophomore Jessica Popiol upending UIC's Anais Brion and Edit Cosmo, 6-2, the Bruins were in position to win the doubles point. However, the Flames came back on courts two and three. UIC's Marta Halbersztadt and Paula Rodriguez Gregoris got past junior Emma Grant and freshman Ketevan Jeladze 6-4 at the third spot.
 
The first point of the match was decided at No. 2 doubles where the Flames' Joanne Hartono and Nia Cooper outlasted junior Hana Sokolovic and graduate Cielo Tapia-Cruz 7-3 in a tiebreaker.
 
Webster provided Belmont with its lone set win across all six singles matches, defeating UIC's Cosmo 6-3 in the opening set before falling 6-3 in the second stanza and 10-4 in the deciding 10-point super tiebreaker in lieu of a third set.
 
The Flames won in straight sets at No. 2-6 singles.
 
Senior Libbie Hamilton nearly forced a third-set super tiebreaker at the sixth singles position, taking UIC's Charlotte Deletioglu to a second set tiebreak after a 6-2 first set loss. Hamilton was unable to generate any momentum early, though, as Deletioglu took the tiebreaker 7-2.
 
Up Next
The Bruins are back in action Sunday morning, closing out the home portion of the season with Valparaiso visiting for senior day. First serve from the Beaman Family Tennis Complex is set for 9 a.m. Following the match, Belmont's two graduating players – Hamilton and Tapia-Cruz – will be honored.
 
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.