SEMO tennis sweeps weekend, starts home schedule undefeated

The Redhawks women’s tennis team began their home schedule over the weekend and defeated both Bradley and Arkansas State. Saturday SEMO got a 4-0 sweep over the Bradley Braves and on Sunday beat the Red Wolves 4-2.

SEMO head coach Mary Beth Gunn said this weekend was good for all the teams involved to get some experience before their respective conference schedules.

“It was a great opportunity to get some really high-quality tennis in,” Gunn said. “Both teams, Bradley and Arkansas State played really well and I think both teams got good experience in this weekend that's going to help them for the conference season.”

On both days, the Redhawks got the doubles point of the match, Saturday the teams of Juliette Talieu and Daniela Hlacikova along with Trinity Calinescu and Vivian Lai won their matches. On Sunday, Lai and Calinescu along with the team of Maja Bajorek and Lera Valeeva won the point for SEMO

In singles play on Saturday, Hlacikova, Calinescu, Bajorek, and Valeeva won their matches and the three points needed for the Redhawks to clinch the victory. Each of those matches was dominated by SEMO with no Bradley player within three points, including two 6-0 sweeps by Calinescu.

Sunday’s singles matches were much closer with three of them going to an extra set, SEMO won two of those close battles. Valeeva, Bajorek, and Talieu won their matches with the victory-clinching point coming off the racket of Bajorek. Gunn reiterated the experience the team got over the weekend and how it will help later on this season.

“These two wins, they’re helping with our experience on the court. We had a freshman today who was the one to clinch the match for us and being in those tight situations early on helps prepare us,” Gunn said. “Once we get into conference play I think the experience that we've gotten here this weekend will be invaluable.”

The Redhawks will open up Ohio Valley Conference play on the road at Western Illinois on March 12. Before returning home to take on Lindenwood on March 15. at 2 p.m.