ERIE, Pa. -- The 25th-ranked Mercyhurst women's tennis team won its 12th straight match, claiming an 8-1 victory over non-conference opponent Roberts Wesleyan on Sunday at the Pennbriar Athletic Club. The Lakers are also rated No. 2 in the Atlantic Region.
The Lakers (12-0) grabbed an early 2-1 lead with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles before RWC tied the contest at 2-1 with a point at third doubles.
Mercyhurst then swept singles competition, clinching the match with
Kayla Frost's win at No. 2 singles.
Frost and
Adrianna Jeffress (No. 6 Atlantic Region doubles) gave Mercyhurst its initial lead with an 8-0 win over Andrea Gallardo and Salome Darsalia at second doubles.
Saioa Gomez de Segura and
Adina Spahalic (No. 4 Atlantic doubles) followed with an 8-4 victory against Nthabi Mogopodi and Marousia Bosch at first doubles.
After the Redhawks closed within one point, Gomez de Segura and Jeffress got the Lakers back on track with wins at first and third singles, respectively, to set the stage for Frost's clinching point.
Gomez de Segura, ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II and No. 1 in the Atlantic, earned her win over Mogopodi, 6-0, 6-0, while Jeffress (No. 3 Atlantic singles) bested Bosch, 6-1, 6-0.
Frost, rated 50th in D-II and No. 2 in the Atlantic, then secured the victory against Gallardo, 6-2, 6-2.
Ivona Plecevic,
Adina Spahalic and Athina Tsagkaraki followed with singles wins for the Lakers.
Plecevic defeated Marine Kennel, 6-2, 6-2, at fourth singles; Spahalic bested Freeman at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 7-5; and Tsagkaraki handled Bijisha Shrestha at sixth singles, 6-2, 6-1.
Gomez de Segura and Frost extended individual wins streaks to 11 matches each. Spahalic and Tsagkaraki are on 10-match win streaks and Plecevic has won seven in a row. Singles records for each player are as follows: Gomez de Segura (25-2), Frost (19-3), Jeffress (20-3), Plecevic (16-4), Spahalic (13-2) and Tsagkaraki (13-4).
Gomez de Segura and Spahalic teamed for their 15th consecutive doubles win; they are 18-1 in their last 19 matches. Frost and Jeffress combined for their seventh straight win in pairs action.
The Lakers will return to competition on Thursday at non-conference opponent Ashland.
#25 Mercyhurst 8, Roberts Wesleyan 1
| Singles competition |
| 1. #4 S. Gomez de Segura (MER-W) def. Nthabi Mogopodi (RWC-W) 6-0, 6-0 |
| 2. #50 Kayla Frost (MER-W) def. Andrea Gallardo (RWC-W) 6-2, 6-2 |
| 3. Adrianna Jeffress (MER-W) def. Marousia Bosch (RWC-W) 6-1, 6-0 |
| 4. Ivona Plecevic (MER-W) def. Marine Kennel (RWC-W) 6-2, 6-2 |
| 5. Adina Spahalic (MER-W) def. Laura Freeman (RWC-W) 6-2, 7-5 |
| 6. Athina Tsagkaraki (MER-W) def. Bijisha Shrestha (RWC-W) 6-2, 6-1 |
| Match Notes |
| Roberts Wesleyan 7-8 |
| Mercyhurst 12-0; National ranking #25 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,2,4,6,5) |
