COLUMBIA, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis (0-2) registered a strong effort in its season-opening doubleheader against the Southeastern Conference's Missouri (6-2) Sunday at the Mizzou Tennis Complex. SEMO dropped a close 4-3 match in the morning before falling to the Tigers, 4-0, in the afternoon tilt.
 
Daniela Hlacikova and Romana Tarajova each registered a pair of victories (singles and doubles) in the doubleheader Sunday. For Hlacikova, a freshman from Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the victories were the first in her career as a Redhawk.
 
Match #1
 
SEMO opened its 2021 season on a high note with a tight, 4-3, loss to Missouri. The Redhawks captured the doubles point to grab an early 1-0 lead in the match.
 
After falling at no. 3 doubles, SEMO rattled off wins at the first and second positions. Gabrielle Goldin and Serena Nash beat Vivian Lai and Lera Valeeva, 6-2, before the Redhawks secured the doubles point.
 
Kseniya Zonova and Teona Velkoska overcame Bronte Murgett and Marta Oliveira, 6-4, before the Slovakian duo of Tarajova and Hlacikova defeated Elys Ventura and Valentina Vazquez, 6-4.
 
The victory for Hlacikova was the first in her collegiate career at SEMO.
 
Missouri then pulled ahead 2-1 with wins at the top and fourth singles slots. Murgett beat Zonova and Nash took down Lai, 6-3, 6-4.
 
SEMO recaptured the lead in the dual with victories at no. 3 and no. 2 singles. Hlacikova fought past Oliveira, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, and Tarajova bested Ventura, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 for the pair's second victories of the day.
 
Missouri then captured the first match of the doubleheader with wins at the final two singles positions. Valentina Vazquez beat Velkoska, 6-2, 6-2, and Rom Cardenas Rifka defeated Manuela Barriga, 6-3, 6-0.
 
Match #2
 
In the second match of the doubleheader, Missouri claimed the doubles point with wins at the third and first slots. Goldin and Nash beat Lai and Grace Powderly, 6-0, while Murgett and Oliveira defeated Tarajova and Hlacikova, 6-3.
 
Zonova and Velkoska had a 5-4 advantage on Ventura and Vazquez in the unfinished no. 2 doubles match.
The Tigers then earned singles wins at the second, first and fourth positions to secure the doubleheader sweep of SEMO.
 
Oliveira defeated Zonova, 6-1, 6-0, before Murgett fought past Tarajova, 6-1, 6-4.
 
Nash then beat Velkoska, 6-3, 6-2 to wrap up the win for Missouri.
 
At the third singles slot, Hlacikova opened the match with a 6-0 first set on Ventura. The match went unfinished with the second set knotted at 6-6.
 
The Redhawks continue their 2021 season with a pair of contests at Arkansas State in State University, Arkansas, on Feb. 6 and 7. SEMO takes on Central Arkansas on Friday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. before wrapping up the weekend against Arkansas State on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.