As the weather warmed up this past week, so did action in both men’s and women’s tennis. The women played three road games in Memphis, Tenn., against Memphis, Troy State and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, losing to Memphis and Troy State 5-2, but squashing SIUC 6-1. The men ventured against Conference USA rival Louisville on Saturday, but lost 0-7. The men pulled out this week with a win Tuesday, beating Western Illinois 7-0.
The women played a close match against Memphis. SLU senior Melissa Lemus defeated Sabrina Lindemann in No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-2. Vicki Zielinski pounded Monica Gonzalez-Gordo 6-0, 6-3, and No. 3 Amy O’Handley pulled out a victory over Sumita Rao 1-6, 6-1, 11-9. Despite the early lead, the Billikens were unable to hold on and lost 5-2.
The story was the same the following day when the women’s team fell to the Troy State Trojans, 5-2.
“We lost those two pretty close, so we knew we had to win at least one,” Lemus said.
In a matinee match on Saturday, the Bills beat SIUC improving to 7-10 on the year. Lemus defeated SIUC’s Alejandra Blanco 6-0, 6-2, and Zielinski rolled Maria Blanco. Melissa Cutler, playing fourth, defeated Sophie Bedard, 6-2, 6-2. The final two singles matches and the final doubles match were all SLU victories by default.
“Both Vicki Zielinski and Melissa Cutler really stepped up, which is good because we need them to play well to do well at conference,” said coach Jon Zych.
Men’s tennis also saw minor setbacks last week, before progressing toward victory.
In the Saturday duel against Louisville, only Ikaika Jobe and Lance Vodicka played close matches, losing 6-1, 6-4, and 6-3, 6-7, 10-7, respectively.
“Our confidence struggled before the Western Illinois match,” Zych said.
Against Western Illinois, the Billikens earned a shut-out victory, improving to 5-8 on the season. Jobe defeated the Leatherneck’s Matt Kinst, 6-2, 6-2; Vodicka defeated Robert Coventry in the No. 2 slot, 6-3, 6-3, and Thomas Kwong defeated Sisay Selassie, 6-3, 6-0.
The Billiken men still have five home duels remaining before the Conference USA Tournament.
After the Western Illinois match, coach Zych said, “We’re playing better teams until the end of the season, and that will help to improve us.”
The men’s and women’s teams will both face off against Creighton on Friday at SLU.
