WHEELING, W.Va. - The Saginaw Valley State University women's tennis team continued its strong play for the spring season, opening its weekend road trip with a victory West Liberty. After taking two of the three doubles matches, SVSU took four singles matches as well and closed-out for a 6-3 win over the Hilltoppers.
Meghan Woody and Lauren Sharp teamed up for an 8-4 win at the #2 Doubles position. A decisive 8-1 victory for Danielle Slonac and Shea Donahue in #3 Doubles gave the Cards their second doubles win. Izabella Ismailova and Erin Doud fought hard at #1 Doubles, battling back from an early 7-4 deficit. They ended up falling by a 9-8 count in a tiebreaker.
Shonk got it going for SVSU in singles, cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 win at the #6 position for the first victory. Sharp (6-1, 6-3) and Donahue (6-1, 6-4) also had impressive victories at the #5 and #4 singles spots to follow, clinching the team victory for the visitors. Doud came out ahead at #3 singles too, winning 7-5, 6-4.
"Today was another great team effort and win," said SVSU Head Coach Jenn Boehm, whose team has claimed victory in 4-of-6 matches so far this spring. "The conditions were challenging with gusting winds and cold temps, but I thought our players handled it well. It is almost impossible to play your best in this weather so it's really more of a mental grind to stay focused and positive. Our ladies did that today."
Saginaw Valley (9-12) will look to continue the fine play Sunday, as the ladies play at Slippery Rock University (5-4) in match that's set for a noon first serve.
