LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The University of North Dakota women's tennis team bounced back from a loss on Friday with a 5-2 victory over Dixie State on Saturday afternoon to complete the second day of action in Las Vegas.
UND (5-6) now has four victories over its last five matches and improve to 3-2 this season when playing at a neutral-site.
"We are learning how to cope with different situations: outdoor tennis and the variables that come along with it; playing three matches in three days; dealing with manageable nagging injuries, etc.," said Head Coach
Tom Boysen. "Learning how to compete well first and foremost in these different situations is what will ultimately lead to our growth as a team."
The Fighting Hawks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to three victories in doubles play.
Lucia Rizza and
Allie Ochotorena started it off on the No. 2 court with a 6-3 victory before
Charlotte Bowles and
Nore Heinitz clinched the point with a 6-3 win of their own from the bottom spot.
Andrea Jansson and
Sapir Sela sealed the strong start in two-person play with a 6-2 triumph at the top spot.
"Dual matches are not easy to win," said Boysen. "I'm proud of our players for the effort they gave at every lineup spot today and very happy to get a victory."
UND kept up the momentum in singles play, picking up the first four victories to cruise to a 5-0 score before the Trailblazers responded with two wins to clinch the final score.
Sela moved to 2-0 on the weekend in singles play with a 6-3, 6-1 win at the top spot and Jansson extended the lead to 3-0 with a pair of 6-2 scores at the No. 2 court. Rizza was the clincher for the green and white on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory on the fifth court. Bowles earned the final point of the day for the Hawks in a 6-3, 7-6 battle from the bottom position.
"We can look at ourselves in the mirror and admit that we are far from a finished product, but we also know that we found a way to be tough and gritty today in some trying situations," said Boysen. "Looking forward to tomorrow's match vs. Montana."
UND closes out the weekend with former Big Sky Conference rival Montana at noon from Las Vegas.
North Dakota 5, Dixie State 2
Singles competition
1.
Sapir Sela (UND) def. Alexndria Hildreth (DSU) 6-3, 6-1
2.
Andrea Jansson (UND) def. Ya-Chi Hsu (DSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Juliana Honczaruk (DSU) def.
Allie Ochotorena (UND) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (12-10)
4. Sabrina Longson (DSU) def.
Nore Heinitz (UND) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9)
5.
Lucia Rizza (UND) def. Rachel Mellor (DSU) 6-4, 6-3
6.
Charlotte Bowles (UND) def. Jane Dorny (DSU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1.
Andrea Jansson/
Sapir Sela (UND) def. Rachel Mellor/Juliana Honczaruk (DSU) 6-2
2.
Lucia Rizza/
Allie Ochotorena (UND) def. Alexndria Hildreth/Ya-Chi Hsu (DSU) 6-3
3.
Charlotte Bowles/
Nore Heinitz (UND) def. Sabrina Longson/Jane Dorny (DSU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,2,5,6,3,4)
