Not a single Billiken won a final match in the Washington University Invitational last weekend, but that wasn’t the team’s fault.
The Billikens made the final in every single event, but they were never given the chance to finish what they started. The final day of play was cancelled due to rain.
This did not take away from the Bills’ performance, though. The team won every match in which it participated. Junior Hailee Elmore even won every game she played, posting two separate 6-0, 6-0 victories en route to the flight A singles final. This is the second successful tournament run this fall for Elmore, who won the flight A singles title in the Billiken classic two weeks ago.
Elmore also made the flight A doubles final with fellow junior Casey Miller. A victory in the finals would have meant a second title in as many tournaments this fall for Elmore and Miller. The duo captured the flight A doubles title in the Billiken Classic as well.
“This [women’s] team is really strong, really deep. I think it’s the best team we’ve had since I’ve been at [Saint Louis University],” head coach Jonathan Zych said.
Jenny Nelapa represented the Bills in the flight B singles final, Sarah Septien made it to the flight C singles final and the flight D singles final was an all-Billiken match up as both Mia Elmore and Caitlin McKenna advanced to the deciding match.
The Billikens only lost four games total in singles play.
This tournament would not have been the first time this fall that two Billikens met in a match. The Billiken Classic, which also saw a dominating performance by SLU, featured several Billiken vs. Billiken matches.
“It’s definitely different for the girls having to play against each other. But it does need to get done . so it is nice to see where everyone is at on the team and get that out of the way,” Zych said.
The women’s team is not the only one hitting the courts this fall. The men put on a decisive performance of their own this past weekend at Bradley University’s Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational.
The Billikens were 26-6 overall for the tournament and finished undefeated at two singles and two doubles positions.
“We played really well, especially for the first tournament of the year,” said Zych.
The team felt very good about their performance as well.
“It was a nice business trip as we like to say,” senior James McArthur said, “We really took care of business.”
McArthur finished 4-0 in flight 2 singles and 3-1 in flight 1 doubles alongside senior Ken Nordheim.
The fall tennis tournaments count for the players’ individual records and rankings, but they do not affect the team’s standing for the spring season.
“I liked this tournament . overall it was really productive. It’s a good way to get some competitive matches, especially for the freshmen,” McArthur said.
Next up for the women’s team is a trip to Lawrence, Kan. this weekend. There they will take place in the first of two Kansas Tournaments this fall.
The men travel to Tulsa, Okla. from Oct. 3-5 for the All-American Pre-Qualifier.