O'FALLON, Ill. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis (1-2) downed in-state rival, Saint Louis (1-1), 6-1, Wednesday at the St Clair Tennis Club for its first dual victory in 2020.
 
Romana Tarajova, Kseniya Zonova and Manuela Barriga each earned a pair of wins (singles and doubles) in the dual.
 
Southeast captured the doubles point to open the match. Lera Valeeva and Barriga cruised past Mariluz Rojo and Nawal Cheema, 6-2, at the third position for Valeeva's first collegiate win. Tarajova and Zonova then beat Cassie McKenzie and Ariana Rodriguez, 6-2, to secure the point.
 
The Redhawks extended their advantage in the dual to 3-0 when the competition switched to singles with wins at the no. 6. and no. 4 slots.
 
Barriga defeated Cheema, 6-1, 6-2, before Vivian Lai ousted Rodriguez, 6-2, 6-2. For Lai, it was her first career dual victory as a Redhawk. 
 
Saint Louis won its only match of the day at third singles when McKenzie overcame Valeeva, 7-5, 6-4. 
 
SEMO then rattled off wins at the first, fifth and second lineup spots for its first dual win during the 2020 campaign.
 
Tarajova, the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-OVC honoree, battled past Rojo, 7-6, 6-2, at first singles.
 
Teona Velkoska then fought her way past Adriana Gonzalez in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, at the fifth position.
 
Zonova closed out the match with a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 come back victory over Mika Misgav at no. 2 singles.
 
The Redhawks next head to Memphis, Tennessee, for a pair of contests on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. SEMO faces Lipscomb on Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m. before competing against Memphis of the American Athletic Conference Feb. 9 at 9 a.m.