University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, February 18
Lafayette
3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
4
vs
3
UTSA
Women's Tennis Earns Narrow 4-3 Win over UTSA
2/18/2016 9:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Junior Dana Brankovic defeats Nicole Karaklis in No. 4 Singles to Send Cajuns Home with a Win
LAFAYETTE -- With the match tied at 3-3, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns junior Dana Brankovic defeated NIcole Karaklis, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 4 singles to push Louisiana to a 4-3 victory over the Roadrunners on Thursday afternoon at Cajun Courts.
The win improved the Cajuns record to 5-4 this spring season.
"We started off with good energy and stayed focus to win the doubles point," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "The team fought hard and they never gave up.
"UTSA definitely challenged us and we stepped up and played with confidence," Vallejos added. "We are becoming more of a team after each match and believing that we can compete."
After losing the first doubles match, the Cajuns took the final two matches to take the doubles point. Junior Alexandra Way and sophomore Abby Johnson defeated Karaklis and Alena Shichkova, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot. Senior Melissa Burckhartt and sophomore Kelly Drew finished the doubles comeback with a 7-5 win over M. Rosell Canudas and Jacobea Junger at No. 1 singles.
In singles, Burckhartt earned the second point of the day for the Cajuns, defeating Shichkova, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3.
Charlene Tiwari of UTSA bested Johnson, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5 singles, while Junger topped sophomore Elena Sava, 6-2, 7-5 at the second spot.
Louisiana's Way eliminated Lina Hallgren, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6 singles to give the Cajuns a 3-2 match lead. However, Canudas topped Drew at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5) to breakeven with the Cajuns at 3-3.
Brankovic and Karaklis went three sets with Brankovic taking the match, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, sending the Cajuns to their fifth victory of the 2016 season.
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team next will host Southern Miss this Saturday, Feb. 20 for a 10 a.m. first serve at Cajun Courts.
Singles competition
1. M. Rosell Canudas (UTSA) def. Drew, Kelly (UL) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5)
2. Jacobea Junger (UTSA) def. Sava, Elena (UL) 6-2, 7-5
3. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) def. Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-4, 6-1
4. Brankovic, Dana (UL) def. Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
5. Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) def. Johnson, Abby (UL) 6-4, 6-4
6. Way, Alexandra (UL) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Burckhartt, Melissa/Drew, Kelly (UL) def. M. Rosell Canudas/Jacobea Junger (UTSA) 7-5
2. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) def. Nicole Karaklis/Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-4
3. Lina Hallgren/Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) def. Clement, Juliette/Sava, Elena (UL) 6-2
Match Notes
UTSA 3-5
Louisiana 5-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,2,6,1,4)
The win improved the Cajuns record to 5-4 this spring season.
"We started off with good energy and stayed focus to win the doubles point," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "The team fought hard and they never gave up.
"UTSA definitely challenged us and we stepped up and played with confidence," Vallejos added. "We are becoming more of a team after each match and believing that we can compete."
After losing the first doubles match, the Cajuns took the final two matches to take the doubles point. Junior Alexandra Way and sophomore Abby Johnson defeated Karaklis and Alena Shichkova, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot. Senior Melissa Burckhartt and sophomore Kelly Drew finished the doubles comeback with a 7-5 win over M. Rosell Canudas and Jacobea Junger at No. 1 singles.
In singles, Burckhartt earned the second point of the day for the Cajuns, defeating Shichkova, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3.
Charlene Tiwari of UTSA bested Johnson, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5 singles, while Junger topped sophomore Elena Sava, 6-2, 7-5 at the second spot.
Louisiana's Way eliminated Lina Hallgren, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6 singles to give the Cajuns a 3-2 match lead. However, Canudas topped Drew at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5) to breakeven with the Cajuns at 3-3.
Brankovic and Karaklis went three sets with Brankovic taking the match, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, sending the Cajuns to their fifth victory of the 2016 season.
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team next will host Southern Miss this Saturday, Feb. 20 for a 10 a.m. first serve at Cajun Courts.
Singles competition
1. M. Rosell Canudas (UTSA) def. Drew, Kelly (UL) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5)
2. Jacobea Junger (UTSA) def. Sava, Elena (UL) 6-2, 7-5
3. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) def. Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-4, 6-1
4. Brankovic, Dana (UL) def. Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
5. Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) def. Johnson, Abby (UL) 6-4, 6-4
6. Way, Alexandra (UL) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Burckhartt, Melissa/Drew, Kelly (UL) def. M. Rosell Canudas/Jacobea Junger (UTSA) 7-5
2. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) def. Nicole Karaklis/Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-4
3. Lina Hallgren/Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) def. Clement, Juliette/Sava, Elena (UL) 6-2
Match Notes
UTSA 3-5
Louisiana 5-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,2,6,1,4)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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