Cardinals Sweep Southeast Missouri

Sunday, January 26

LOUISVILLE, KY

10:00 a.m.

University of Louisville

Southeast Missouri State

January 26, 2020 | Women's Tennis

Cards move to 5-0

By: Nancy Worley

LOUISVILLE, Ky -- The University of Louisville women's tennis team picked up two wins on the day with a 7-0, 4-0 sweep of Southeast Missouri State in the doubleheader with the Redhawks Sunday afternoon at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

"I'm pleased with the girls. These days are always tough. It's just something that we have to do," said Mark Beckham, UofL coach. "To a certain extent, I wanted to make sure that we got a lot of play in. Obviously we're using this to help us get better. No disrespect to SEMO but we're a little bit more talented than them. It was one of those things where I'm trying to implement certain things in practice and forcing them to do them in the matches. I'm starting to see progress. They are doing the things we are asking them to do. It's starting to make sense for them. They're understanding that they can actually win easier doing it that way. Progress today, definitely."

In the first match, UofL secured the doubles point with wins at all three slots starting with a win at No. 2 by Raven Neely and Maia Haumueller, who beat Teona Velkoska and Vivian Lai 6-1. UofL clinched the point when the No.1 pair of Jelena Vujanic and Dina Chaika downed Lera Valeeva and Manuela Barriga 6-2. A win by Rhea Verma and Andrea Di Palma at No. 3 completed the sweep.

"They're starting to get me kinda excited. They're doing some really good things in doubles," said Beckham. "Doubles is so critical. You always want to have that 1-0 lead. That's always the most exciting part of a college tennis match. It's always better to have a 1-0 lead as opposed to being down 0-1. I'm excited. I feel like we have three really good teams out there that always have a chance to win at least two of them. We're trending in the right way."

The Cardinals stayed on top of the Redhawks in singles, starting with a win at No.1 when Raven Neely beat Romana Tarajova 6-1, 6-1. The next point was won by Andrea Di Palma at No. 3, who won 6-1, 6-1 over Lera Valeeva. The match was clinched by Jelena Vujanic at No. 4, who rolled 6-1, 6-3 over Vivian Lai. The Cards also got a point from Dina Chaika, who won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5. Rhea Verma and Diana Wong also won at slots No. 2 and No. 6 respectively.

In the second match, Louisville secured the doubles point by winning all three slots. No. 1 pair Raven Neely and Maia Haumuller defeated Romana Tarajova and Kseniya Zonova. UofL clinched the point when No. 2 pair Rhea Verma and Andrea Di Palma downed Teona Velkoska and Vivian Lai 6-3.

The Cardinals carried momentum over into singles play as No. 3 Jelena Vujanic made quick work of Lera Valeeva 6-2, 6-0 for the first point. Louisville got its next point from No.2 Andrea Di Palma who rolled 6-1, 6-3 over Kseniya Zonova. The Cards clinched the match on the win by No. 4 Dina Chaika who beat Vivian Lai 6-2, 6-1.

Tennis Match Results Louisville vs Southeast Missouri State.
1/26/2020 at. Louisville, Ky (Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)

Match 1

Louisville 7, SEMO 0

Singles Competition

Raven Neely (UofL) def. Romana Tarajova (SEMO) 6-1, 6-1
Rhea Verma (UofL) def. Kseniya Zonova (SEMO) 6-4, 3-6,10-5
Andrea Di Palma (UofL) def. Lera Valeeva (SEMO) 6-1, 6-1
Jelena Vujanic (UofL) def. Vivian Lai (SEMO) 6-1, 6-3
Dina Chaika (UofL) def. Teona Velkoska (SEMO) 6-1, 6-3
Diana Wong (UofL) def. Manuela Barriga (SEMO) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles Competition

Rhea Verma/Andrea Di Palma (UofL) def. Romana Tarajova/Kseniya Zonova (SEMO) 7-6
Raven Neely/Maia Haumueller (UofL) def. Teona Velkoska/Vivian Lai (SEMO) 6-1
Jelena Vujanic/Dina Chaika (UofL) def. Lera Valeeva/Manuela Barriga (SEMO) 6-2

Order to finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,3,4,5,6,2)

Match 2

Louisville 4, SEMO 0

Singles Competition

Rhea Verma (UofL), Romana Tarajova (SEMO) 6-3, 3-2, DNF
Andrea Di Palma (UofL) def. Kseniya Zonova (SEMO) 6-2, 6-3
Jelena Vujanic (UofL) def. Lera Valeeva (SEMO) 6-2, 6-0
Dina Chaika (UofL) def. Vivian Lai (SEMO) 6-2, 6-1
Diana Wong (UofL),Teona Velkoska (SEMO) 7-5, 2-0 DNF
Maia Haumueller (UofL), Manuela Barriga (SEMO) 6-3, 5-4 DNF

Doubles Competition

Maia Haumuller/Raven Neely (UofL) def. Romano Tarajova/Kseniya Zonova (SEMO) 6-1
Rhea Verma/Andrea Di Palma (UofL) def. Teona Velkoska/Vivian Lai (SEMO) 6-3
Dina Chaika/Jelena Vujanic (UofL) def. Lera Valeeva/Manuela Barriga (SEMO) 7-6. 7-2

Order to finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,4)