The Saint Louis University women’s tennis team ended a strenuous weekend in top form on Sunday by defeating Oral Roberts University to earn their first victory of the season. Playing their third match in as many days, the Billikens battled through fatigue and injury to secure the 4-3 win.
The Bills raced ahead to an early lead by capturing all three doubles matches. The sweep earned SLU a point and showed that they were ready to avenge Friday’s and Saturday’s losses. The tandem of freshmen Katharina Becker and Caitlin Bokulic won 8-2 in the number-three spot. The number-two doubles team of junior Amanda Hellberg and sophomore Rachel McCullagh followed suit with their own 8-2 victory. Junior Katerina Lozanova and sophomore Tara Grant’s 8-3 victory at the number-one spot ensured that the Billikens would be a point ahead entering the singles matches.
The round of singles matches would be the sixth match of the weekend for several players. Head coach Jonathon Zych said, “I was confident that our girls were the better team; I just hoped fatigue wasn’t an issue.”
Zych’s worries materialized when after one set Becker was forced to retire from her number-four singles match with a nagging quadriceps injury. The injury slowed Becker throughout the weekend and kept her out of the lineup on Saturday.
The Billikens continued to battle, receiving a lift from two dominant performances by McCullagh (6-0,6-1) at number five and Hellberg (6-0, 6-0) at number two.
Lozanova, hampered most of the weekend by chronic shoulder tendonitis, disposed of ORU’s Emily Arkell (6-3, 6-2) to clinch the victory for the Billikens.
“They stepped up to play three [matches] in three days and battled through a few chronic injuries. I’m really pleased,” said Zych.
On Friday afternoon, SLU lost to Wichita State, 6-1. Hellberg picked up the lone win at number two singles, defeating Anna Egorova (6-3, 6-4).
Conference rival Tulsa University captured all seven points on Saturday to move the Billikens record to 0-2. SLU continued to battle through injuries, forfeiting the number-six singles match and giving freshman Lauren Page the start at number five. The Golden Hurricane is ranked 73rd nationally and are expected to be in the middle of the fight for the conference title.
Zych wishes the same for his team.
“Obviously, our goal is about conference. This is a really good start; we have a very close and unique team. I really like our chances the rest of the year,” he said.
The women’s tennis team returns to the court on Sunday to face Missouri State. The neutral site match at Columbia, starts at 11 a.m.
