The women’s tennis team moved to 5-4 on the weekend after a comeback victory against Dayton and a tight 4-3 loss to Duquesne. The Bills are now 1-1 in A-10 Conference play.
SLU faced the Flyers on Feb. 17. Beginning with doubles, SLU started on the back foot, dropping the doubles point with two 6-4 losses in the number one and number two doubles places. Senior sister duo Eleonore Tchakarova and Verginie Tchakarova and the team of freshmen Cassie McKenzie and Ariana Rodriguez were unsuccessful in their attempts to keep SLU in competition for the first point of the day.
However, the women were able to regroup and attack singles play, winning the four singles matches necessary to take the win. At number one singles, Eleonore Tchakarova took the victory easily, 6-1, 6-2. Verginie Tchakarova also earned a win in two sets, 6-4, 6-1. Sophomore Ally McKenzie dominated at the number three spot, 6-2, 6-0. Freshman Mariluz Rojo Domingo took care of business at the fifth spot, 6-1, 6-1.
Going into the weekend with a 1-0 conference record, SLU was confident for their match against Duquesne. However, the Dukes played the role the Billikens played in the match against Dayton, losing the doubles point and coming back to win four singles matches to take the win.
The Tchakarova sisters and the team of Rodriguez and Cassie McKenzie made quick work of the doubles competition, but they could not convert in the singles play. Both Tchakarova sisters lost their singles matches, and Domingo and Rodriguez were also unsuccessful. Ally McKenzie and Cassie McKenzie, however, both won their singles matches, 7-5, 6-2, and 7-5, 6-0, respectively, but it was not enough to bring the Billikens back to the top.
Overall, the women had a competitive weekend to prep them for the rest of A-10 play and the remainder of the season. Up next, the Bills travel to VCU and George Washington. VCU and SLU will hit the courts at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24, and the Billikens will take on the Colonials at 2 p.m. on Feb. 25.
Further down the road, SLU will host four home matches against Missouri State, Western Illinois, Murray State and Drake. All matches will take place at the St. Clair Tennis Club in O’Fallon, Ill.
