Women's Tennis 2-1 Over Opening Weekend

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern women's tennis opened the 2020 season with 2-1 record after picking up wins over Texas-Dallas and Austin College over the weekend.
 
The Savage Storm opened play in Richardson, Texas, with a 6-2 win over UTD and opened its home schedule with a 6-1 win over AC on Saturday before dropping a 7-0 matchup that afternoon against nationally-ranked Cowley County CC.
 
"The women this weekend did well," said head coach Brian Nelson. "It was tough mentally and physically opening with three long matches in two days, but I feel we were mentally tough."
 
"It was good to get the win Friday to start the weekend," Nelson continued, "Over NCAA Division III number 31 University of Texas Dallas. The ladies played well on the road and won some close matches to close that one. Then they started great again on Saturday morning picking up the win again over Austin College from nearby Sherman."
 
"We knew the match against Cowley College would be very tough as their women just like their men are also highly ranked in junior college as they are number five. We were very competitive with Cowley in doubles losing two close ones and being tied at the third one before the Doubles point was clinched. And then in singles we were able to split sets in two matches and play a lot of other close matches but could not come away with a singles win. We will have a good week of practice hopefully and be ready for three division two matches next weekend at home. I feel the ladies are getting better every week."
 
The Storm dominated singles play in its opener against the Comets who are ranked No. 32 in Division III, winning five of six matches, but dropped two out of three in doubles.
 
Diana Budnik and Elizaveta Tregubova picked up an 8-2 win at two doubles, but SE suffered lossed at one and three and SE trialed 2-1 after doubles play.
 
Nina Sergeev tied the match up at 2-2 after rallying for a 1-6, 6-2, 10-8 win at the three position.
 
Tregubova swept to a 6-4, 6-4 win at one singles to put the Storm ahead 3-2.
 
India Shiaelis continued that run with a 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 win at number two to extend the lead to 4-2.
 
Chantal Lozano would clinch the match with a 6-3, 6-0 win at number six, taking a 5-2 lead.
 
Nicole Maldanado would pick up the final SE win of the match with a 6-4, 6-3 win at the five position.
 
In Saturday's first matchup against Austin College SE would sweep through doubles play to earn the point and take a 1-0 lead.
 
Shiaelis and Sergeev picked up a 6-3 win at the top spot with Maldanado and Lozano earning a 7-6 win at number three to clinch the point. Budnik and Tregubova finished the doubles sweep with a 7-6 win at the two position.
 
Tregubova would carry the momentum into singles play with a 6-0, 6-0 win at the one spot while Shiaelis followed with a 6-3, 6-2 win at the two to stretch the lead to 3-0.
 
Budnik, Maldanado, and Lozano would each pick up wins in the four, five, and six positions, respectively, to secure the 6-1 victory.
 
The Storm had a tougher time in the afternoon against Cowley County as they were swept on the day in doubles and single play in a 7-0 defeat.