Michigan Tech women's tennis lost to Illinois Springfield and Lewis University Sunday and Monday to begin a seven match road trip this week.
CHATFIELD, Ill. – Michigan Tech women's tennis fell 5-1 to University of Illinois Springfield Sunday to open their 2020-21 campaign outdoors at Velasco Tennis Center. UIS moved to 3-0 on the year.
The Prairie Stars took both doubles sets to lead the match 1-0. Marina Fernandez and Mirna Golac fell 6-1 to Franca Bucco and Carol Quevedo. Dominika Bobik and Lauren Opalewski also lost at No. 1 doubles 6-3 to Sina Skjelstad and Neha Mokhasi.
Bobik lost in straight sets at No. 1 singles to Quevedo 6-3, 6-2 and the Prairie Stars recorded the deciding point. Opalewski fell 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles to Skjelstad. Neva Manas debuted as No. 3 singles and fell 6-4, 6-1 loss to Bucco. Fernandez took the first set 6-4 over Makhasi in the closest singles match of the day, but fell 6-3, 6-1 in sets two and three. Golac won by default at No. 5 singles.
"We were really excited to finally get back out there for matches," said Michigan Tech head coach Kristin Yep. "Today was a tough way to start the season. We fought hard but were not equipped to deal with the elements of outdoor tennis. We have four more matches to play this week and we look forward to improving through experience."
PLAINFIELD, Ill. – The Huskies continued their seven-match road trip with a 6-1 loss to Lewis University Monday morning at Five Star Tennis Center. Mirna Golac and Marina Fernandez forced a tiebreak at No. 2 doubles against Sophie Davis and Joie Reisch but fell 7-6 (4). Dominika Bobik and Lauren Opalewski also lost 6-2 at No. 1 doubles to Rita Pedroso and Casey Smith.
Tech fell behind 2-0 after Smith downed Opalewski in singles 6-0, 6-1. Neva Manas recorded the first singles win of the season for the Huskies at No. 2. She defeated Joie Reisch in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 but losses at No. 4 singles and No. 1 were enough for the Flyers to clinch the team victory. Bobik forced a third set with an 8-6 tiebreak second, but lost at No. 1 to Pedrosa 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1.
Mirna Golac was the last to finish at No. 5. She lost to Grace Sueflohn in a 10-point super-tiebreaker in lieu of a third set 6-3, 1-6, 10-5.
"They gave it their all but I give credit to our opponents today," Yep said. "It's difficult going into a match short one player but I felt we attacked the match with the same mentality which was encouraging."
Michigan Tech (0-2) plays again Wednesday, March 10 at 10 a.m. against Tiffin University.
