University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, March 31
Lafayette
3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
4
vs
1
Incarnate Word
Louisiana Takes Care Of Business, Beats UIW In Women's Tennis
3/31/2017 9:06:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Cajuns wrap up home slate vs. Prairie View on Saturday at 5 p.m.
LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team dropped the doubles point, but the team dominated singles play against Incarnate Word to pick up a 4-1 victory on Friday at Cajun Courts.
Having to rally from down 1-0, Louisiana (7-8) stepped up in singles play to rally back and claim four singles victories, bringing its win streak to two matches. Incarnate Word falls to 4-15 with the loss.
"It was a good win for us," head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "I know some of the girls had some tight games, so it was nice to see them step up with the bigger points and be aggressive."
The Cajuns started out doubles play well, with the pair of India Shiaelis and Alexandra Way scoring a 6-3 victory at No. 3. But the Cardinals fought back strong, starting with a comeback 6-4 win at No. 2 to tie the score in doubles.
The doubles point came down to the winner of the match on Court 1, where the duo of Lucile Delabarre and Abby Johnson found themselves down 1-4 before rallying back to force a tiebreak. But Incarnate Word's team of Rachel Sadiq and Matea Zemunik pulled out the 7-6 (7-5) win to claim the doubles point.
After singles play began, Louisiana became dominant, not dropping a set in any of the singles matches.
"It was good to see the girls forget about doubles and bounce back with a different type of energy," Vallejos said, "so that's always nice to see, especially since we're playing here at home."
Kelly Drew picked up her first No. 2 singles win of the season with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Rachel Sadiq to start off singles well for the Cajuns.
Shiaelis, a freshman, claimed a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 5 for her second collegiate victory. Her doubles teammate Way, a senior, then picked up a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the No. 1 spot to extend her singles winning streak to five matches.
"This semester has by far been [Way's] best semester of tennis," Vallejos said about her only senior player. "She's feeling strong. She's more confident, and she should be more confident. Her teammates are confident that she should be at that spot, and is taking care of it very well. She's playing smarter tennis, and she is just seeing the court better than she ever has."
Lucile Delabarre clinched the match for the Cajuns with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 3, her second dual match singles victory this season.
Louisiana returns to Cajun Courts on Saturday for the Senior Day match against Prairie View. Way will be honored before the match as the team's lone senior player. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. and admission is free.
Louisiana 4, Incarnate Word 1
March 31, 2017 at Lafayette, La. (Cajun Courts)
Doubles competition
1. Rachel Sadiq/Matea Zemunik (UIW) def. Lucile Delabarre/Abby Johnson (LA) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Victoria Kareh/Sarah Savedra (UIW) def. Kelly Drew/Carla Ortega (LA) 6-4
3. India Shiaelis/Alexandra Way (LA) def. Maria Batchinsky/Alejandra Tamayo (UIW) 6-3
Singles competition
1. Alexandra Way (LA) def. Matea Zemunik (UIW) 6-3, 6-3
2. Kelly Drew (LA) def. Rachel Sadiq (UIW) 6-1, 6-2
3. Lucile Delabarre (LA) def. Victoria Kareh (UIW) 6-4, 6-4
4. Abby Johnson (LA) vs. Sarah Savedra (UIW) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
5. India Shiaelis (LA) def. Alejandra Tamayo (UIW) 6-2, 6-1
6. Carla Ortega (LA) vs. Maria Batchinsky (UIW) 7-5, 5-1, unfinished
Match Notes
Incarnate Word 4-15
Louisiana 7-8
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (2, 5, 1, 3)
Having to rally from down 1-0, Louisiana (7-8) stepped up in singles play to rally back and claim four singles victories, bringing its win streak to two matches. Incarnate Word falls to 4-15 with the loss.
"It was a good win for us," head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "I know some of the girls had some tight games, so it was nice to see them step up with the bigger points and be aggressive."
The Cajuns started out doubles play well, with the pair of India Shiaelis and Alexandra Way scoring a 6-3 victory at No. 3. But the Cardinals fought back strong, starting with a comeback 6-4 win at No. 2 to tie the score in doubles.
The doubles point came down to the winner of the match on Court 1, where the duo of Lucile Delabarre and Abby Johnson found themselves down 1-4 before rallying back to force a tiebreak. But Incarnate Word's team of Rachel Sadiq and Matea Zemunik pulled out the 7-6 (7-5) win to claim the doubles point.
After singles play began, Louisiana became dominant, not dropping a set in any of the singles matches.
"It was good to see the girls forget about doubles and bounce back with a different type of energy," Vallejos said, "so that's always nice to see, especially since we're playing here at home."
Kelly Drew picked up her first No. 2 singles win of the season with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Rachel Sadiq to start off singles well for the Cajuns.
Shiaelis, a freshman, claimed a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 5 for her second collegiate victory. Her doubles teammate Way, a senior, then picked up a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the No. 1 spot to extend her singles winning streak to five matches.
"This semester has by far been [Way's] best semester of tennis," Vallejos said about her only senior player. "She's feeling strong. She's more confident, and she should be more confident. Her teammates are confident that she should be at that spot, and is taking care of it very well. She's playing smarter tennis, and she is just seeing the court better than she ever has."
Lucile Delabarre clinched the match for the Cajuns with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 3, her second dual match singles victory this season.
Louisiana returns to Cajun Courts on Saturday for the Senior Day match against Prairie View. Way will be honored before the match as the team's lone senior player. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. and admission is free.
Louisiana 4, Incarnate Word 1
March 31, 2017 at Lafayette, La. (Cajun Courts)
Doubles competition
1. Rachel Sadiq/Matea Zemunik (UIW) def. Lucile Delabarre/Abby Johnson (LA) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Victoria Kareh/Sarah Savedra (UIW) def. Kelly Drew/Carla Ortega (LA) 6-4
3. India Shiaelis/Alexandra Way (LA) def. Maria Batchinsky/Alejandra Tamayo (UIW) 6-3
Singles competition
1. Alexandra Way (LA) def. Matea Zemunik (UIW) 6-3, 6-3
2. Kelly Drew (LA) def. Rachel Sadiq (UIW) 6-1, 6-2
3. Lucile Delabarre (LA) def. Victoria Kareh (UIW) 6-4, 6-4
4. Abby Johnson (LA) vs. Sarah Savedra (UIW) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
5. India Shiaelis (LA) def. Alejandra Tamayo (UIW) 6-2, 6-1
6. Carla Ortega (LA) vs. Maria Batchinsky (UIW) 7-5, 5-1, unfinished
Match Notes
Incarnate Word 4-15
Louisiana 7-8
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (2, 5, 1, 3)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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