The Upper Iowa University women's tennis team secured a weekend sweep with a 6-1 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth. UIU won at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles before straight-set wins at Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 singles clinched the victory. The Peacocks improve to an 8-5 (5-3 NSIC) record, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-8 (2-7 NSIC).
RECAP... Wins at No. 2 and No. 1 doubles, respectively, clinched to doubles point and gave Upper Iowa a 1-0 lead in the team dual. The Peacock pairing of
Charalampia Grammatikaki and
Jessa Michieli picked up a 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles before the duo of
Varvara Ogorodnikova and
Lina Ziani won a tightly contested No. 1 doubles match 7-5. Minnesota Duluth claimed a 6-4 win in the No. 3 doubles match against
Padmasree Murugan and
Elaina Wall.
Grammatikaki made quick work of her opponent in the No. 1 singles spot with a 6-0, 6-1 win to double the UIU lead to 2-0. Michieli kept Upper Iowa's momentum going with a straight-set win in the No. 3 singles match, pulling out a 7-5 win in set one before a dominant 6-0 win in set two. The Bulldogs stayed alive with a straight-set win over Wall in the No. 6 singles spot to cut their deficit to 3-1 as UIU needed just one victory to clinch the dual.
A 6-2, 6-4 win by Ziani at No. 4 singles would do just that, securing the best-of-seven team win. Ogorodnikova kept it going with a straight-set win in the No. 2 singles spot. The sophomore won 7-5 in set one after facing a set point while being down 5-1, and she kept the edge to clinch the win with a 6-2 victory in set two. Murugan rounded out the dual with a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles to end the contest with a 6-1 final in favor of the Peacocks.
COACH'S QUOTE... "We picked up another great victory today! Minnesota Duluth played solid tennis today and sometimes really pushed us, but we started strong in doubles and played aggressive tennis. In singles, we started a little slower but quickly found our rhythm. We kept our focus and a positive mindset throughout the matches. One example of that great attitude and mindset today was Varia being down 5-1 / 30:0 in the first set, but she fought back and won the set 7-5. Everybody showed great character this weekend, and I am extremely proud of the team! Looking forward to our next match against Winona State. Go Peacocks!" - Head Coach, Léo Millet
UP NEXT... Upper Iowa will return to Winona, Minn. on Saturday, Mar. 26, for a matchup against NSIC foe Winona State University at 1:30 p.m. The Peacocks are then scheduled for an intrastate contest against NCAA DIII Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa on Monday, Mar. 28, at 4:30 p.m.
RESULTS...
Upper Iowa 6, Minnesota Duluth 1
Singles competition
1. Grammatikaki, Chara (UIU) def. Shay Callaway (UMD) 6-0, 6-1
2. Ogorodnikova, Varvara (UIU) def. Mallory Lithun (UMD) 7-5, 6-2
3. Michieli, Jessa (UIU) def. Isabel Thiner (UMD) 7-5, 6-0
4. Ziani, Lina (UIU) def. Abby Johnson (UMD) 6-2, 6-4
5. Murugan, Padmasree (UIU) def. Amanda Hanowski (UMD) 6-3, 6-0
6. Olivia Honsey (UMD) def. Wall, Elaina (UIU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Ogorodnikova, Varvara / Ziani, Lina (UIU) def. Shay Callaway / Mallory Lithuna (UMD) 7-5
2. Grammatikaki, Chara / Michieli, Jessa (UIU) def. Abby Johnson / Isabel Thiner (UMD) 6-1
3. Laura Palmer / Olivia Honsey (UMD) def. Murugan, Padmasree / Wall, Elaina (UIU) 6-4
