University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Tuesday, March 8
Lafayette
3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
4
vs
3
Western Kentucky
Cajuns Edge Western Kentucky, 4-3 on Tuesday
3/8/2016 9:49:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LAFAYETTE -- The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team won for the third time in their last four matches, edging Western Kentucky, 4-3 at Cajun Courts on Tuesday afternoon.
The win improved the Cajuns record to 8-6 this spring, the most wins for the program since the 2012-13 season (14).
"Western Kentucky has been playing well and I knew it would be a competitive challenge for us," Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "We came out playing smart in doubles and that point was big for us. Everyone out there had to battle through the wind and the rain delay, but we never gave up and remained focused at the big points. I'm proud of the fighting mentality we had today."
The Cajuns took both doubles matches on the afternoon. Senior Juliette Clement and sophomore Elena Sava defeated Violette Shatalova and Cassie Pennington, 6-2 at No. 3, while junior Alexandra Way and sophomore Abby Johnson came out victorious, 6-2 over Tereza Hejlova and Elpida Malamou, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot.
After the Lady Toppers took the first two singles sets, the Cajuns came back to win at No. 6 as Way defeated Beatriz Gutierrez Cerezo, 7-5, 6-3 at No. 6. Shatalova took No. 5 singles over Johnson, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, but Cajuns senior Melissa Burckhartt defeated Cynthia Melita, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 3.
Sophomore Kelly Drew clinched the match with a win in three sets over Hejlova, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
The Cajuns will go for their fourth win in five matches this Thursday, March 10 at Louisiana Tech for a 2:30 p.m. first serve in Ruston, La.
Singles competition
1. Andrea Christopoulou (WKU) def. Sava, Elena (UL) 6-2, 6-1
2. Drew, Kelly (UL) def. Tereza Hejlova (WKU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
3. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) def. Cynthia Melita (WKU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
4. Elpida Malamou (WKU) def. Brankovic, Dana (UL) 6-0, 6-3
5. Violetta Shatalova (WKU) def. Johnson, Abby (UL) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
6. Way, Alexandra (UL) def. B. Gutierrez Cerezo (WKU) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Andrea Christopoulou/Cynthia Melita (WKU) vs. Burckhartt, Melissa/Drew, Kelly (UL) no result
2. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) def. Tereza Hejlova/Elpida Malamou (WKU) 6-2
3. Clement, Juliette/Sava, Elena (UL) def. Violetta Shatalova/Cassie Pennington (WKU) 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles - 3, 2
Singles - 1, 4, 6, 5, 3, 2
Match Notes:
WKU 5-4
Louisiana 8-6
The win improved the Cajuns record to 8-6 this spring, the most wins for the program since the 2012-13 season (14).
"Western Kentucky has been playing well and I knew it would be a competitive challenge for us," Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "We came out playing smart in doubles and that point was big for us. Everyone out there had to battle through the wind and the rain delay, but we never gave up and remained focused at the big points. I'm proud of the fighting mentality we had today."
The Cajuns took both doubles matches on the afternoon. Senior Juliette Clement and sophomore Elena Sava defeated Violette Shatalova and Cassie Pennington, 6-2 at No. 3, while junior Alexandra Way and sophomore Abby Johnson came out victorious, 6-2 over Tereza Hejlova and Elpida Malamou, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot.
After the Lady Toppers took the first two singles sets, the Cajuns came back to win at No. 6 as Way defeated Beatriz Gutierrez Cerezo, 7-5, 6-3 at No. 6. Shatalova took No. 5 singles over Johnson, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, but Cajuns senior Melissa Burckhartt defeated Cynthia Melita, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 3.
Sophomore Kelly Drew clinched the match with a win in three sets over Hejlova, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
The Cajuns will go for their fourth win in five matches this Thursday, March 10 at Louisiana Tech for a 2:30 p.m. first serve in Ruston, La.
Singles competition
1. Andrea Christopoulou (WKU) def. Sava, Elena (UL) 6-2, 6-1
2. Drew, Kelly (UL) def. Tereza Hejlova (WKU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
3. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) def. Cynthia Melita (WKU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
4. Elpida Malamou (WKU) def. Brankovic, Dana (UL) 6-0, 6-3
5. Violetta Shatalova (WKU) def. Johnson, Abby (UL) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
6. Way, Alexandra (UL) def. B. Gutierrez Cerezo (WKU) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Andrea Christopoulou/Cynthia Melita (WKU) vs. Burckhartt, Melissa/Drew, Kelly (UL) no result
2. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) def. Tereza Hejlova/Elpida Malamou (WKU) 6-2
3. Clement, Juliette/Sava, Elena (UL) def. Violetta Shatalova/Cassie Pennington (WKU) 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles - 3, 2
Singles - 1, 4, 6, 5, 3, 2
Match Notes:
WKU 5-4
Louisiana 8-6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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