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Women's Tennis Kirk Downs

Women's Tennis Sweeps Opening Weekend

NASHVILLE – For the first time since 2014, the Lipscomb women's tennis team opened its spring season 2-0 after defeating UT Martin and Western Kentucky over the weekend at the Whitworth Racquet Club.

After a long layoff since last playing a competitive match on March 7, the Bisons took out all their frustrations on the Skyhawks Friday night, winning 6-1 in the season opener. They then followed it up with a 4-2 victory Saturday against the Hilltoppers.

"It was great to be back on the court again," head coach Jamie Aid said. "Against UT Martin we had a little more energy going into doubles than we did against Western Kentucky, but I think that was from the transition of playing matches on back-to-back nights after not having played for so long."

Match 1 – Lipscomb 6, UT Martin 1
In doubles, the tandem of Maddox Bandy and Perri Howard put the Bisons ahead with a 6-4 win at No. 3, before Kate Popova and Emma Zakordoniec secured the point on the top line with a 6-3 victory.

Lipscomb didn't take long to clinch the match as five Bisons recorded straight-set wins. At the top position, Popova quickly disposed of Daphne Pratt (6-0, 6-0) to open her senior season in style. Sophomores Anja Trbeznik (6-2, 6-4) and Zakordoniec (6-4, 6-2) followed with wins that clinched the match at the No. 3 and No. 2 positions, respectively.

Despite already having the win in hand, play continued as Bandy picked up a 6-0, 6-4 win on court No. 6. After tying for the team-high in singles victories last season with five, junior Liza Diachenko closed out the opener at the 5th-slot, winning 6-2, 6-1.
  • The win was the first for Lipscomb since 2016 in dual match season openers.
  • But it was the 4th-straight victory in spring home openers.
  • The Bisons have now won four consecutive meetings with UT Martin, dating back to 2013.

Match 2 – Lipscomb 4, Western Kentucky 2
Playing back-to-back nights, the Bisons were a little slow out of the gate, dropping the doubles point in the third match. Bandy and Howard earned the lone win, 6-3, at the No. 3 position.

Lipscomb didn't take long to jump ahead on Saturday once singles action began.

Freshman Sasha Dobranos got her first collegiate victory and put the Bisons on the board, knocking off Samantha Martinez 6-2, 6-3 at No 4. Then on court three, Trbeznik followed suit with a straight-set victory (6-4, 6-4) to put Lipscomb in front, 2-1, for the match.

After WKU (1-2) pulled back even on court two, Popova edged out a 6-3, 7-6(3) win on the top line before junior Eleanor Chapman clinched the victory on court six behind a 6-4, 6-1 win over the Hilltoppers' Lauren Joch.

"It was a lot of fun for both the players and the coaches just to be out there competing again," Aid said. "It was a great weekend being able to see our freshman play their first matches. And we were able to get a good look at all the girls as a group. It was a great team effort."
  • The win was the 3rd-straight in the series for Lipscomb.
  • It also marks the 4th-consecutive season the Bisons have started 2-0 at home.

 
FULL RESULTS:
Friday, Jan. 22: Lipscomb 6, UT Martin 1
Singles:
1. POPOVA, Kate (LU) def. PRATT, Daphne (UTM) 6-0, 6-0
2. ZAKORDONIEC, Emma (LU) def. STREIF, Jule (UTM) 6-4, 6-2
3. TRBEZNIK, Anja (LU) def. AUBIN, Aziza (UTM) 6-2, 6-4
4. ALBERSMEIER, Sina (UTM) def. DOBRANOS, Sasha (LU) 6-4, 6-3
5. DIACHENKO, Liza (LU) def. SAKURAI, Mizuki (UTM) 6-2, 6-1
6. BANDY, Maddox (LU) def. NIEDZIALOWSKI, Jilli (UTM) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles:
1. POPOVA, Kate/ZAKORDONIEC, Emma (LU) def. CAMPBELL, Amelia/STREIF, Jule (UTM) 6-3
2. TRBEZNIK, Anja/DOBRANOS, Sasha (LU) vs. AUBIN, Aziza/PRATT, Daphne (UTM) 5-4, unfinished
3. BANDY, Maddox/HOWARD, Perri (LU) def. ALBERSMEIER, Sina/SAKURAI, Mizuki (UTM) 6-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,3,2,4,6,5)
 
Saturday, Jan. 23: Lipscomb 4, Western Kentucky 2
Singles:
1. POPOVA, Kate (LIPW) def. VON DUNGERN, Cora (WKY) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
2. BERNARDOS, Laura (WKY) def. ZAKORDONIEC, Emma (LIPW) 6-4, 6-2
3. TRBEZNIK, Anja (LIPW) def. BRYANT-OTAKE, Triste (WKY) 6-4, 6-4
4. DOBRANOS, Sasha (LIPW) def. MARTINEZ, Samantha (WKY) 6-2, 6-3
5. DIACHENKO, Liza (LIPW) vs. FRIESS, Lisa (WKY) 6-2, 5-2, unfinished
6. CHAPMAN, Eleanor (LIPW) def. JOCH, Lauren (WKY) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles:
1. VON DUNGERN, Cora/FRIESS, Lisa (WKY) def. POPOVA, Kate/ZAKORDONIEC, Emma (LIPW) 6-1
2. BERNARDOS, Laura/MARTINEZ, Samantha (WKY) def. TRBEZNIK, Anja/DOBRANOS, Sasha (LIPW) 6-3
3. BANDY, Maddox/HOWARD, Perri (LIPW) def. CRAMER, Alexis/BRYANT-OTAKE, Triste (WKY) 6-3

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,3,2,1,6)


 
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Players Mentioned

Maddox Bandy

Maddox Bandy

5' 7"
Sophomore
Eleanor Chapman

Eleanor Chapman

5' 7"
Sophomore
Liza Diachenko

Liza Diachenko

5' 8"
Sophomore
Kate Popova

Kate Popova

5' 5"
Junior
Anja Trbeznik

Anja Trbeznik

Freshman
Emma Zakordoniec

Emma Zakordoniec

Freshman
Perri Howard

Perri Howard

Redshirt Freshman
Sasha Dobranos

Sasha Dobranos

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Maddox Bandy

Maddox Bandy

5' 7"
Sophomore
Eleanor Chapman

Eleanor Chapman

5' 7"
Sophomore
Liza Diachenko

Liza Diachenko

5' 8"
Sophomore
Kate Popova

Kate Popova

5' 5"
Junior
Anja Trbeznik

Anja Trbeznik

Freshman
Emma Zakordoniec

Emma Zakordoniec

Freshman
Perri Howard

Perri Howard

Redshirt Freshman
Sasha Dobranos

Sasha Dobranos

Freshman
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