Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Belmont
Racers Earn Back to Back Wins, Remain Undefeated in Conference
4/15/2024 10:22:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Racers are 6-0 in conference play after defeating Belmont and UIC
Murray State women's tennis defeated Belmont and UIC this past weekend in a slate of matches. The Racers defeated both teams 5-2, sending MSU to 13-5 overall, and 6-0 in conference play.
The Racers started the weekend traveling to Belmont. Doubles play was a true test, with two of the three pairs having to fight back from deficits and ultimately earning the doubles point. Graduates Emma Honore and Natalie Slezakova defeated the reigning MVC Doubles #1 Fall Champions, giving the Belmont duo of Anastasiya Zholdakova/Mariia Hlahola their first loss in the MVC this year. Freshman Varya Alexeyeva stepped up to play with Graduate Marit Kreugel at the number three spot, where she earned her first doubles win at Murray State.
Heading into singles play, all of the Racers singles wins were done so in straight sets. Honore clinched the match point for the fourth consecutive time, giving Belmont's Zholdakova her first loss in the MVC this year.Â
"I was proud of the way the team responded for having to make a last minute change in our doubles and singles line up for the match," Coach Jorge Caetano said. "We were down on doubles two and three, but were able to fight our way back to secure the important doubles point. Singles showed once again the depth of our roster and everybody played a huge role in our team victory."
The Racers then returned home for the final home match of the season, as well as Senior Day. There are five seniors that were recognized on Sunday: Sarah Bureau, Emma Honore, Marit Kreugel, Annika Pschorr and Natalie Slezakova. Bureau and Pschorr will be completing their undergraduate degree this spring, with Honore, Kreugel, and Pschorr all working towards their MBA.
"We have a very special group of girls graduating this year and I am very grateful and appreciative of all of them for believing in what we do here at Murray State and for trusting our process." Caetano said. "They all have brought unique qualities to our team and together have helped raise the level of our program in the classroom and on the courts. They are role model students and first class competitors and I couldn't be prouder of everything they have achieved and will still achieve in their lives."
The Racers faced UIC, who sits third in current conference rankings. MSU struggled at the beginning of the match due to windy weather conditions, but were able to bounce back in singles play. The Racers defeated all of their opponents in straight sets once again. Freshman Valeria Chaikovskaia defeated the 2022 Horizon League Player of the Year from UIC, Agnes Gustafsson. Honore clinched the match for a fifth consecutive time, giving her a perfect 4-0 weekend in singles and doubles. Her doubles partner, Natalie Slezakova, also went a perfect 3-0 this weekend, making her just one win shy of 100 career wins.
"We could not have asked for a better senior day! Thank you to all the fans who came and supported making this day very special for our girls! Our team dealt very well with the tough conditions and winds up to 25 mph. Losing the doubles point always makes things a little harder but we stepped up and played much better in singles and dominated in five out of the six courts," Coach Caetano said.
With these two wins, The Racers have clinched one of the top two seeds in the MVC Tournament, earning the first round bye. With one more win, the Racers will clinch the MVC Regular season title and the number one seed in the tournament.
ÂMurray State 5 x 2 Belmont
Doubles
#1 Emma Honore/Natalie Slezakova (MSU) def. Mariia Hlahola/Anastasiya Zholdakova (BEL) 6-4
#2 Sarah Bureau/Annika Pschorr (MSU) def. Viktoria Kliiimand/Vesa Gjinaj (BEL) 6-4
#3 Varya Alexeyeva/Marit Kreugel (MSU) def. Aly Getty/Hana Sokolovic (BEL) 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3*, 2
Singles
#1 Mariia Hlahola (BEL) def. Valeria Chaikovskaia (MSU) 6-3, 7-5
#2 Vesa Gjinaj (BEL) def. Sarah Bureau (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
#3 Emma Honore (MSU) def. Anastasiya Zholdakova (BEL) 6-1, 7-5
#4 Varya Alexeyeva (MSU) def. Viktoria Kliiimand (BEL) 6-1, 6-2
#5 Marit Kreugel (MSU) def. Hana Sokolovic (BEL) 6-1, 6-3
#6 Natalie Slezakova (MSU) def. Libbie Hamilton (BEL) 6-0, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 6, 2, 1, 3*, 5
ÂMurray State 5 x 2 UIC
Doubles
#1 Emma Honore/Natalie Slezakova (MSU) def. Agnes Gustafsson/Mayu Ushio (UIC) 6-1
#2 Camille Belberka/Tamara Malazonia (UIC) def. Sarah Bureau/Annika Pschorr (MSU) 6-4
#3 Zara Ryan/Paula Rodriguez Gregoris (UIC) def. Paola Campigotto/Marit Kreugel (MSU) 7-6
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*
Singles
#1 Valeria Chaikovskaia (MSU) def. Agnes Gustafsson (UIC) 6-3, 6-4
#2 Sarah Bureau (MSU) def. Tamara Malazonia (UIC) 6-4, 6-3
#3 Emma Honore (MSU) def. Mayu Ushio (UIC) 7-5, 6-1
#4 Camille Belberka (UIC) def. Varya Alexeyeva (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
#5 Annika Pschorr (MSU) def. Zara Ryan (UIC) 6-2, 6-2
#6 Marit Kreugel (MSU) def. Anais Brion (UIC) 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish: 5, 1, 4, 6, 3*, 2
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Players Mentioned
