BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's tennis returned to action for the first time in nearly ten and a half months with the Panthers falling in a closely contested match, 4-3, to Omaha.
The season opener for both teams was played at the Bloomington Tennis Center.
Omaha captured the doubles point in the match. Omaha won easily at No. 3 doubles before EIU evened the doubles competition with a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles.
Rachel Papavasilopoulos and
Christine Gouws paired at the top doubles spot. Omaha edged EIU 7-6 at No. 2 doubles to take the point.
Playing only three matches at a time, EIU evened the match at 2-2 winning two of the top three singles points. Papavasilopoulos won at No. 1 singles 6-3, 7-6 over Madison Gallegos while
Elizaveta Bukraba-Ulanova won 7-5, 6-4 at No. 3 singles over Natalie Lorentz.
Each team then picked up a point in No. 4 and No. 5 singles to leave the match even at 3-3. Omaha won at No. 5 singles and EIU claimed the point at No. 4 singles.
Brittany Steven won the point for EIU at No. 4 singles with a three set win over Marie Kapelevich, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Lillian Tiemeyer would give the Mavericks the final point and match with her win at No. 6 singles in the final contest.
