Racers Named Outright MVC Regular Season Champions

Sunday, April 21

Peoria, IL

12 p.m.

Murray State

Bradley

4/21/2024 7:25:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Racers finish the regular season undefeated in conference play after defeating Bradley

Murray State women's tennis became outright Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Champions after they defeated Bradley on Sunday, 5-2. This is the first MVC title for Murray State, and the first regular season title for Racers Tennis since 2015.

The Racers stormed into doubles play, winning two of the three doubles matches. Paola Campigotto/Marit Kreugel earned their 7th conference doubles win, only dropping one match throughout conference play. The duo of Emma Honore/Natalie Slezakova notched their sixth conference win, putting them at a 6-2 record for the conference season.

Heading into singles play, the Racers usual lineup shook up, with senior Sarah Bureau stepping up to the number one spot and freshman Varya Alexeyeva taking the number two spot. Campigotto and Kreugel at the fifth and sixth flights dominated their sets. Kreugel ended her conference season with a perfect 7-0 record, and was 12-1 overall for the spring.

Alexeyeva edged out Bradley opponent Anna Belogliadova in the first set, 7-5. The freshman came out hard for the second set, nearly sweeping Belogliadova 6-1, clinching the match for the Racers. This was Alexeyeva's first match clinching win of the season.

The Racers concluded the conference season undefeated at 8-0, with a 15-5 overall record.

"When the season started and we brought all of the players back from last year, as well as added two talented freshmen, we knew it could be a special season," Coach Jorge Caetano said. "We knew if we put in the work day in and day out, that we would have a chance to accomplish something great. That is what the team did."

Murray State 5 x 2 Bradley

Doubles

#1 Emma Honore/Natalie Slezakova (MSU) def. Kirstin Hailey/Andra Sirbu (BU) 6-3

#2 Maria Bezmenova/Madi Rogers (BU) def. Sarah Bureau/Annika Pschorr (BU) 7-5

#3 Paola Campigotto/Marit Kreugel (MSU) def. Anna Belogliadova/Alexandra Hildreth (BU) 6-1

Singles

#1 Maria Bezmenova (BU) def. Sarah Bureau (MSU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4

#2 Varya Alexeyeva (MSU) def. Anna Belogliadova (BU) 7-5, 6-1

#3 Emma Honore (MSU) def. Kirstin Hailey (BU) 6-3, 7-6

#4 Andra Sirbu (BU) def. Annika Pschorr (MSU) 7-6, 7-6

#5 Marit Kreugel (MSU) def. Alexandra Hildreth (BU) 6-0, 6-3

#6 Paola Campigotto (MSU) def. Danielle Badman (BU) 6-0, 6-2

The Racers will be back in action next weekend for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. The Racers will be the number one seed.