SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis (1-2), the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite, dropped in-state rival Missouri State (0-4), 6-1, Friday evening at the Cooper Tennis Complex for the Redhawks first win in 2022.
 
SEMO secured the doubles point with wins at the second and third slots. Romana Tarajova and Myroslava Zelenchuk beat Mara Presot and Alyson Piskulic, 6-1.
 
Daniela Hlacikova and Teona Velkoska then defeated Juliette Robinson and Sandra Lukacova, 6-3.
 
Lera Valeeva and Ksenia Shikanova were leading their top doubles match on Tiera Jarmond and Mary Houston, 5-3, before the match went unfinished.
 
When the competition switched to singles, the Redhawks rattled off wins at the first, third, fourth, second and fifth slots to nab their first win of the season.
 
Tarajova, the 2022 OVC Preseason Top Player, downed Jarmond, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 1 singles.
 
Zelenchuk, a freshman from Lviv, Ukraine, earned her first collegiate dual win Friday after she beat Piskulic, 6-2, 6-1, at the third lineup spot.
 
Zelenchuk was named to the 2022 OVC Preseason Top 10 Players list Tuesday after her stellar fall tournament play.
 
Ksenia Shikanova, a 2021 All-OVC performer, then overcame Robinson, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, after dropping the opening set at fourth singles.
 
Hlacikova, the 2021 OVC Freshman of the Year, then fought past Houston at No. 2 singles. Hlacikova who was named to the 2022 OVC Preseason Top 10 Players Watchlist on Tuesday, edged Houston in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8, at the second slot.
 
Kate Miley gave the Bears its lone win of the night, beating Velkoska, 7-5, 7-6, at the final singles position.
 
Vivian Lai closed out the dual with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Sandra Lukacova at No. 5 singles.
 
The Redhawks next head to Columbia, Missouri, for a pair of matches. SEMO will take on Missouri Feb. 18 before facing Central Arkansas Feb. 19. The matches are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 9 a.m., CT, respectively.