Cougars Pick Up First Win Of The Season

Sophomore Marnie Perez-Ochoa

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Homewood, Ill. – The Chicago State Women's Tennis team won their first match of the spring by defeating the South Dakota Coyotes 5-2 on Saturday evening (Feb. 1).

The Cougars picked up four points in singles play. Freshman Faith Huckabee (Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) won her fourth singles match in a row by beating Yuliya Sidenko 6-1, 6-0. Sophomore Marnie Perez-Ochoa (Louisville, Ky./Male) won her first match since returning from injury by taking down Dragana Brankovic 7-5, 6-3. Sophomore Carynne Lloyd (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) won her second consecutive match, winning 6-0, 6-1 over Michelle Elkin. Freshman Kirsa Utech (Nindorf, Germany/Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule) also won when she took down Rymma Maslova 6-2, 6-3. Sophomore Gema Bolado Yusta (Madrid, Spain./IES Lázaro Cárdenas) won a set before falling in a third set tiebreak to Milica Pavlovic, 6-2, 2-6, 10-6. Sophomore Sabrine Navarro (Melbourne, Australia/) lost to Nina Barudzic 6-0, 6-1.

Chicago State won the doubles point by winning two of the three doubles matches. Freshman Faith Huckabee (Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and sophomore Carynne Lloyd (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) defeated Nina Barudzic and Milica Pavlovic 6-3. Senior Karyn Emeralda (Jakarta, Indonesia/) and freshman Kirsa Utech (Nindorf, Germany/Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule) won over Michelle Elkin and Dragana Brankovic 6-0. Sophomores Marnie Perez-Ochoa (Louisville, Ky./Male) and Gema Bolado Yusta (Madrid, Spain./IES Lázaro Cárdenas) succumbed to Yuliya Sidenko and Rymma Maslova 6-2.

Head coach Jack Barton was proud of how the team responded after a tough loss to Utah State.

"After such a heartbreaker yesterday, I'm glad the women responded with a win today," said the fourth year head coach. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we have a talented team. I want them to understand that talent doesn't replace hard work and that is what we have to do in order to reach our goals."

Barton's squad improves to 1-3 in the spring while South Dakota falls to 1-1. The Cougars get back on the court next Saturday (Feb. 8) with a doubleheader vs. SIUE and Dayton. The match vs. SIUE takes place at 9:00 A.M. CT.

Prior to the match vs, Dayton, Chicago State tennis with the Chicago District of the United States Tennis Association will host a free "play day" at the Homewood-Flossmoor Racquet and Fitness Club for children. The free event will feature on-court activities, autographs and pizza. The event will start at 3 p.m. CT with the Cougars' contests against Dayton starting at 5 p.m. CT.

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