MONTREAT, N.C.— Playing against an NCAA Division I opponent in the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks, the No. 7-ranked Montreat women's tennis team fell in its home opener by a score of 5-2. The Cavaliers moved to 3-5 on the year with the result.
The match was much closer than the score depicted, as the doubles point could have gone either way.
Valerie Quiceno Ibarguen and
Sofia Hernandez Mera teamed up to capture a 6-3 win in the final doubles slot; however, a 6-3 decision and 7-5 edge to the Redhawks put the visitors up 1-0.
In singles play, Southeast Missouri State put pressure on the Cavs by claiming points at No. 2 and No. 4.
Mariam Bayatyan kept Montreat alive with a quick 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 6, and even though three of the singles matches went to third sets, the Cavaliers dropped at No. 3 and No. 5 to seal SEMO's three-point win.
Stephanie Petit earned a triumph against the top player from the Redhawks, winning both of her sets in tiebreaks, while Quiceno Ibarguen,
Nicole Bueno and
Carol Reis all went to third sets with their opponents.
Women's tennis will now host No. 8 Union College (Ky.) in a conference match on Sunday.
Montreat Tennis Center
Montreat, N.C.
3/14/2022
Southeast Missouri State University 5, Montreat College 2
Doubles play:
1. Romana Tarajova/Ksenia Shikanova (SEMO) def.
Stephanie Petit/
Carol Reis (MONT) 6-3
2. Daniela Hlacikova/Teona Velkoska (SEMO) def.
Nicole Bueno/
Sofia Rojas Osorio (MONT) 7-5
3.
Valerie Quiceno Ibarguen/
Sofia Hernandez Mera (MONT) def. Vivian Lai/Grace Powderly (SEMO) 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles play:
1.
Stephanie Petit (MONT) def. Romana Tarajova (SEMO) 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2)
2. Daniela Hlacikova (SEMO) def.
Vaishnavi Venkatesh (MONT) 6-0, 6-4
3. Ksenia Shikanova (SEMO) def.
Valerie Quiceno Ibarguen (MONT) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
4. Vivian Lai (SEMO) def.
Nicole Bueno (MONT) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
5. Teona Velkoska (SEMO) def.
Carol Reis (MONT) 0-6, 7-6, 6-4
6.
Mariam Bayatyan (MONT) def. Grace Powderly (SEMO) 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 2, 4, 6, 3, 1, 5
