Women's Tennis Closes Out Regular Season at Murray State Friday Afternoon

MURRAY, Ky. – Wrapping up the regular season, the Belmont University women's tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision at Murray State Friday afternoon on the Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts. The Bruins (3-17, 2-5 MVC) were unable to take a set from the host Racers (9-10, 5-2 MVC) in singles play after Murray State won the doubles point.
 
Belmont's lone bright spot on the day came at the top of the doubles lineup where the tandem of redshirt freshman Savannah Webster and sophomore Jessica Popiol dismissed the Racers' Valeria Chaikovskaia and Bruna Melato 6-2.
 
Murray State was a 6-4 winner at No. 3 doubles and a 6-1 victor at second doubles. Barbora Hermanova and Arden Dethridge clinched the doubles point for the Racers with their triumph over junior Emma Grant and freshman Ketevan Jeladze on court three.
 
The Bruins struggled in singles action as Murray State won in straight sets at every spot.
 
At No. 1 singles, Webster pushed the Racers' Chaikovskaia to a 7-5 first set but was defeated 6-1 in the second stanza. Senior Libbie Hamilton challenged Murray State's Melato at the fifth position, forcing an opening set tiebreaker before falling 6-2 in the second set.
 
Graduate Cielo Tapia-Cruz was forced to retire just five games into her match at No. 2 singles, despite leading the Racers' Yuna Kadowaki 3-2.
 
Belmont won no more than four combined games on courts three, four and six.
 
Up Next
The Bruins are the No. 6 seed for next weekend's 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tennis Championship, which will be held Friday-Sunday, April 24-26 at the University of Illinois Chicago's Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts in Chicago. Belmont will take on the to be determined No. 3 seed Friday at 2 p.m. in the first round. The full six-team tournament bracket will be unveiled at the conclusion of the regular season Sunday.
 
How to Follow
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