Box Score The Chicago State women's tennis team dropped a 4-2 decision to Cleveland State in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship Saturday at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Cleveland State advances to the championship match and will face No. 1 Youngstown State Sunday while Chicago State's season ends with a 13-14 overall record and four wins in seven matches against Horizon League foes.
In today's match, the Cougars and Vikings split the first two matches in doubles, leaving the team point at No. 3 where Cleveland State prevailed in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-4), to take an early 1-0 lead. The Cougars evened the score when
Kristina Pukhaeva picked up a win at No. 5 singles and the Vikings countered with a win at No. 4 to regain the lead, 2-1.
Sofiya Sedovich then earned a win at No. 3 to tie the score at 2-2 before Cleveland State won at No. 2 and No. 1 to complete the win, leaving the Cougars No. 6
Ethel Li on the court leading when the match was clinched
"Regardless of the outcome today, it does not change the incredible season the ladies had this year," head coach
Jack Barton said. "Although we didn't reach our goal, it does not come close to defining the season these young women put together. Everyone should be proud of what they accomplished this season. Â
"We had a chance to win the doubles point. We had two match points at 5-4 at No. 3 which could have clinched the point for us, but I think nerves got in the way. That pretty much made the difference in the match and we couldn't come back from it. I think Cleveland State was surprised at the level we were competing but I think we worried too much about the external things that we couldn't control and it got to us. We made a strong push toward the end of singles but we didn't do ourselves any favors by not putting our emotions in check."
Compete results listed below.
Chicago State vs Cleveland State
April 29, 2023 at Ann Arbor, Michigan
(Varsity Tennis Center)
Cleveland State 4, Chicago State 2
Singles competition
1. Oihane Vicario (Cle. St.) def.
Cali Fuller (CSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. Bethany Yauch (Cle. St.) def.
Katarina Dukic (CSU) 6-4, 7-5 (7-5)
3.
Sofiya Sedovich (CSU) def. Tereze Vevere (Cle. St.) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
4. Sima Heren (Cle. St.) def.
Manuella Eloundou (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
5.
Kristina Pukhaeva (CSU) def. Avery Durham (Cle. St.) 6-2, 6-4
6. Filippa Frogner (Cle. St.) vs.
Ethel Li (CSU) 6-7 (4-7), 5-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1.
Manuella Eloundou/
Cali Fuller (CSU) def. Bethany Yauch/Sima Heren (Cle.St.) 6-3
2. Filippa Frogner/Selma Tounsi (Cle. St.) def.
Kristina Pukhaeva/
Sofiya Sedovich (CSU) 6-4
3. Tereze Vevere/Ella Franz (Cle. St.) def.
Ethel Li/
Katarina Dukic (CSU) 7-6 (7-4)
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,4,3,2,1)
About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University Athletics is composed of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994.Â
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