Racers Defeat Bruins in Semifinal, Head to MVC Championship

Saturday, April 27

Nashville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Murray State

Belmont

Racers Defeat Bruins in Semifinal, Head to MVC Championship

4/27/2024 10:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

The Racers will take on Illinois State in the MVC Championship match

Murray State women's tennis is heading to the MVC Championship after defeating Belmont in the Semifinals on Saturday afternoon. The Racers extended their winning streak and are now 16-5 this spring season.

The Racers played their first game of the MVC Tournament on Saturday after earning the first round bye as the number one seed. Starting off in doubles play, the MVC All Conference duo Emma Honore/Natalie Slezakova won the first match, with Paola Campigotto/Marit Kreugel clinching the doubles point, defeating the Bruins 6-2.

Heading into singles play, the Racers started off strong. Kreugel and Varya Alexeyeva won their first sets 6-1, with Honore and Valeria Chaikovskaia defeating their opponents as well. Kreugel and Honore quickly finished their second sets, sending the Racers to 3-0. Belmont's Aly Getty was able to earn the Bruins one point defeating Annika Pschorr, but the match was shortly put away on the first court.

Chaikovskaia clinched the match win with a defeat over the 2024 MVC Co-Player of the Year, Mariia Hlahola. She defeated Hlahola in straight sets; 6-3, 6-3. The Racers locked in the win at 4-1.

The Racers will play for the Tournament Title on Sunday at 11 a.m. against the number two seeded Illinois State Redbirds. The Redbirds are coming off a long match against UIC, where they clinched the match in flight five. Illinois State's Nuria Sanz defeated her opponent after having two tiebreakers before clinching in the third set; 7(7)-6(5), 6(2)-7(7), 6-3. The Redbirds are entering their second consecutive championship round after falling to Drake in the 2023 season.

The Racers will take on the Redbirds on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Beaman Family Tennis Complex in Nashville, Tennessee, looking to become MVC Tournament Champions.