SEMO tennis remains undefeated in conference play

SEMO's Maja Bajorek returns the ball during the March 23. match between the Redhawks and SIUE.

Photo Courtesy of Carrie Trovillion - Freelance Photographer

The SEMO women’s tennis team continued their conference undefeated streak with a 6-1 win over SIUE on Saturday at the John C. Bierk Redhawks Tennis Complex. SIUE came into Cape also undefeated hoping to avenge their loss to the Redhawks in last year’s Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship, but SEMO had other plans for the Cougars.

The Redhawks began the day by taking the doubles point after winning two out of three very close matches. SEMO’s Lera Valeeva and Maja Bajorek defeated SIUE’s Cydney Rogers and Fabiola Perez 6-4 before fellow Redhawks Vivian Lai and Trinity Calinescu lost to the Cougar team of Margaux Britt and Amelia Gorman 6-4.

Doubles came down to SEMO’s Daniela Hlacikova and Juliette Talieu who defeated Jill Lambrechts and Jordan Schifano 6-4. Redhawks head coach Mary Beth Gunn said there were times of pressure in this match but her team did a good job of fighting through it.

“It was a really tough match and there were a lot of ups and downs,” Gunn said. “But the key was trying to get refocused when feeling the pressure or feeling down a little bit, and not just kind of giving into the negative feelings and bringing it back into focus.”

SEMO's Juliette Talieu serves the ball during the March 23. match between the Redhawks and SIUE.

The close matches continued into singles play with two matches needing the third game and three games needing an extra set. First, #1 Hlacikova won her match via the opponent's retirement before their first game ended. #4 Lai was defeated in straight games by a strong opponent in Amelia Gorman which was the Cougars' only victory.

SEMO’s #5 and #6, Maja Bajorek and Lera Veleeva defeated their opponents in straight, albeit close games. These two matches clinched the full-match victory for the Redhawks, something Valeeva said the team was pleased with.

“We knew it was going to be tough, my teammates and I knew we would have to play good,” Valeeva said. “We had a really good effort as a team and it was a really good fight.”

Although the match was already won by the Redhawks, matches #2 and #3 finished playing with SEMO winning both of those as well. After being down 5-1 in the third game Talieu won six straight sets to win 7-5 while Calinescu was tied with SIUE’s Britt 6-6 in the third game before winning the final set and taking home a victory too.

The Redhawks head on the road to Tennessee State on Friday before returning to Cape on April 5. to take on Southern Indiana beginning at 1 p.m.