It’s too bad the Saint Louis University women’s tennis team isn’t cream, because then being whipped would be a good thing. SLU dropped all three of their Conference USA matches this past weekend in Memphis.
On Friday, the Billikens went up against the host Tigers of Memphis and stumbled to a 3-6 loss. At the No. 1 spot, senior Courtney Hague fell in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-1. Junior Jayasree Kuruvilla tried to defend the No. 2 spot but had similar results as she lost in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-0.
The No. 3 spot was no different: sophomore Andra Wilcox went down fighting, 7-5 and 6-2. Sophomore Julie Siemers took her opponent to three sets before being downed at the No. 4, 6-3, 4-6 and 7-6.
Junior Ingrid Habony successfully defended the No. 5 spot, 6-4, 6-0. Freshman Vicki Zielinski also was impressive as she held down the No. 6 position with a straight set victory, 6-3, 6-4.
The Billikens tried to win back some points on the doubles end. The No. 1 team of Hague and Habony was overmatched as they fell, 8-1. Kuruvilla and Heather Holzgrafe also went down as they tried to win at the No. 3 spot, 8-2.
The No. 2 team of Siemers and Wilcox were the only victors for the women as they took their match, 8-4. After a tough loss to Memphis, SLU rose early and turned its attention to the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the first match of the doubleheader.
Kuruvilla tried to defend the No. 1 spot, but ended up falling, 6-2, 6-4. Wilcox moved up to the No. 2 spot, but was also defeated, 6-2, 6-2. The No. 3 spot was kind to Siemers, as she won her match, 6-4, 6-0.
Habony was also successful in her match at the No. 4 spot, winning, 6-2, 6-3. Zielinski wasn’t so lucky at the No. 5, as she was beaten, 6-1, 6-1.
There was only one doubles match and the Golden Eagles never looked back as they trounced the tandem of Zielenski and Holzgrafe, 8-2.
The Golden Eagles took the victory, 5-2.
In the second half of the double header, the DePaul Blue Demons came calling. DePaul took advantage of a beaten and bruised Billiken team by taking the victory, 5-2.
Bright spots for the Billikens include Siemers winning her No. 3 match and Kersten winning her No. 6 match.
SLU must now turn its attention to the C-USA tournament coming up on April 17 -20th.
Head coach Derek Mills said, “I think we’ll do a lot better. It’s not an overwhelming proposition [to finish better.]”
In other tennis news, the mens’ team was victorious this past weekend as it manhandled Illinois-Chicago, 6-1. Senior Bill Tanurchis, grad-student G.T. Cozad, Mike Leise, and Eric Sasser all posted wins for the Billikens.
The men’s team has a busy week ahead of it before heading into the C-USA tournament. This coming Sat., the men will take on DePaul and then on Sunday will go head-to-head with the Memphis Tigers.
All games will be held at the Billiken Tennis Center and will begin at 9 a.m.
