LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The 68th ranked Arizona (7-1) women's tennis team completed their road trip to Las Vegas, Nev. by defeating Loyola Marymount 5-2 at the Fertitta Tennis Center.
“This was tough tennis under very challenging conditions,” head coach Vicky Maes said. “We were passive in our doubles play at two and three and that ultimately cost us the point. However, we managed to compose ourselves and did a good job fighting back in singles and earned the win. I'm happy with the weekend but I know we can do better.”
Briar Preston and Shayne Austin were able to win their doubles match against Perez/Grossman in dominant fashion 6-0, but they were the only Wildcats who won in doubles play. Lauren Marker and Inge Hendrikx fell to Romeka/Piller 6-2, while Laura Oldham and Devin Chypyha dropped their match against Crespo/Norlin 6-3, giving LMU the doubles point.
Even though Arizona found themselves in a hole from the get go, they were able to win all but one of the singles matches to get the win. 115th ranked Marker was impressive once again as she defeated Perez 6-1, 6-1 for her eighth straight win of the season. The sophomore has won all eight of her singles matches this year at the top spot in the lineup. Chypyha also won her eighth straight match by defeating Norlin 6-2, 6-1. The freshman has gotten off to a great start to her career as a Wildcat as she has won all of her singles matches as well.
Preston earned her seventh victory of the season at the second spot in the lineup by beating Crespo 6-1, 6-1. Oldham won her fourth singles match of the season after defeating Grossman in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. Hendrikx collected her sixth win of the season by beating Piller in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Austin dropped her match in a three set thriller (1-6, 6-4, 6-4) against Romeka.
The Wildcats now have a doubles record of 23-18 overall and 13-7 in dual matches. Singles are a different story. Overall, Arizona is 68-32, but have an excellent record of 37-9 in dual matches.
Arizona returns home next week to play a rescheduled match against NAU on Thursday, Mar. 5 a 2 p.m. MST at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
Singles
1. Lauren Marker (ARIZ) def. Jessica Perez (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Briar Preston (ARIZ) def. Andrea Crespo (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Laura Oldham (ARIZ) def. Ellie Grossman (LMU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Anna Romeka (LMU) def. Shayne Austin (ARIZ) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) def. Julia Norlin (LMU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) def. Lisa Piller (LMU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
1. Briar Preston/Shayne Austin (ARIZ) def. Jessica Perez/Ellie Grossman (LMU) 6-0
2. Lisa Piller/Anna Romeka (LMU) def. Lauren Marker/Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) 6-2
3. Andrea Crespo/Julia Norlin (LMU) def. Laura Oldham/Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 6-3
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