CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis (4-3) swept William Woods (2-6) of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Tuesday in SEMO's home-opening doubleheader at the Redhawks Tennis Complex. The Redhawks beat the Owls, 5-2, in the first match before downing William Woods, 7-0, in the Tuesday finale.
Ksenia Shikanova and
Myroslava Zelenchuk paced the Redhawks Tuesday with four total wins (two singles and two doubles) each. Both players are now on three-match singles winning streaks.
Manuela Barriga and
Grace Powderly both notched their first two (one singles, and one doubles) dual wins in 2022. The duo teamed up for a doubles win in the second match Tuesday.
For Powderly, a Cape Girardeau, Missouri, native, Tuesday's home doubleheader was her 2021-22 season debut after suffering a season-ending injury in 2021.
SEMO secured the doubles point to open both matches Tuesday. It marked the first two doubles points for the Redhawks in 2022.
With the pair of wins Tuesday, SEMO extended its win streak to three matches.
SEMO 5, William Woods 2 – Match #1 of Doubleheader
SEMO opened its home-opening doubleheader with a 5-2 victory over William Woods.
The Redhawk secured the double point with three straight wins at the third, second and first positions.
Vivian Lai and
Ksenia Shikanova downed Hannah Meyer and Allison Kowalke, 6-0, at No. 3 before
Teona Velkoska and
Daniela Hlacikova edged Hanna Lindeboom and Marta Calvo Larraz, 6-1, at the second slot.
Romana Tarajova and
Myroslava Zelenchuk then overcame Ana Zavala and Rukshika Wijesooriya, 6-4, at the first position.
When the competition switched to singles, SEMO won every match except the fourth and sixth positions.
Hannah Meyer beat
Grace Powderly, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 6 singles to even the match at 1-1.
SEMO then rattled off wins at the third, fifth and first singles positions to claim the match.
At third singles, Shikanova defeated Marta Calvo Larraz, 6-1, 6-3, before
Manuela Barriga bested Lilla Komiszar, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5.
Tarajova, the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Top Player, then beat Zavala, 6-2, 6-2 at the top slot.
Hanna Lindeboom defeated Velkoska, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 4 before Zelenchuk fought past Wijesooriya, 6-1, 6-3, in the second singles match.
SEMO 7, William Woods 0 – Match #2 of Doubleheader
The Redhawks then grabbed all seven points in the doubleheader finale Tuesday afternoon.
SEMO registered doubles wins at the second, first and third slots to earn the doubles point.
Myroslava Zelenchuk and
Vivian Lai bested Hanna Lindeboom and Marta Calvo Larraz, 6-1, at No. 2 before
Romana Tarajova and
Ksenia Shikanova overcame Ana Zavala and Rukshika Wijesooriya at the top position.
Grace Powderly and
Manuela Barriga completed the doubles matches with a 6-4 victory over Hannah Meyer and Allison Kowalke, 6-4, at the third and final lineup spot.
SEMO concluded the dual with six-straight singles wins at the fourth, fifth, second, first, third and sixth matches.
Lai dropped Hannah Meyer, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 4 singles before
Teona Velkoska edged Lilla Komiszar, 6-1, 6-0, at the fifth spot.
Zelenchuk then defeated Marta Calvo Larraz, 6-1, 6-0, followed by
Daniela Hlacikova beating Hanna Lindeboom, 6-3, 6-1, at the second and first positions, respectively.
Shikanova then bested Ana Zavala, 6-2, 6-3, at third singles.
Grace Powderly then secured her first win of the 2021-22 campaign at the sixth slot. Powderly, a Notre Dame High School alum, fought past Allison Kowalke in a third-set tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-4, 10-7.
Looking Ahead
The Redhawks will next play host to Bradley on Saturday. The dual is set to commence at 12 p.m., CT at the Redhawks Tennis Complex.
