Box Score The Chicago State women's tennis team made history Sunday afternoon, claiming their first-ever regular season conference title following a 6-1 win over Northern Kentucky at Five Seasons Sports Club in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The Cougars finish the regular season with a 5-1 conference record, tied with Cleveland State while Youngstown State could also claim a share, entering a Sunday match at Oakland with a 4-1 mark.
"We are very proud to be regular season champions," head coach
Jack Barton said. "The women worked really hard and what makes it special is we overcame a lot of mid season disappointments and used them to make us better. They earned every bit of this huge accomplishment and the story isn't over, we still have the tournament to play so we are going to enjoy this today and tomorrow and get back to work Tuesday."
Depending on the result of the Youngstown State match, Chicago State could be the No. 1 seed or No. 3. If the Penguins win and there's a three-way tie, the Cougars would be the three seed. If Oakland pulls out a victory, Chicago State would be a one seed with a head-to-head victory over Cleveland State. Regardless, the Cougars have been on a role, winning four matches in a row and 10 of their last 11.
In today's match, Chicago State earned the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 3, leaving the match at No. 2 unfinished. CSU carried the momentum into singles and clinched the team victory by winning the first three singles matches for the eventual 6-1 win.
"We started strong in doubles but I felt we were a little flat," Barton said. "I had to remind them before singles that we have to play with energy, even if we don't play well. That energy helps, and we could eventually play better as the match goes on so we have to be fired up about what we do. They got it together and had a lot of fight in singles."
Compete results listed below.
The Cougars now advance to the Horizon League Women's Tennis Championship set for April 26-28 at the Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette, Indiana. The top two teams receive a first-round bye and advance into the semifinals set for Saturday, April 27.
Chicago State vs Northern Kentucky
4/21/2024 at Highland Heights, Kentucky
(Five Seasons Sports Club)
Chicago State 6, Northern Kentucky 1
Singles competition
1. Ashlee Fisk (NKUW) def.
Manuella Eloundou (CSUW) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
2.
Katarina Dukic (CSUW) def. Darya Gneidina (NKUW) 5-7, 6-2, 11-9
3.
Sofiya Sedovich (CSUW) def. Alyssa Cameron (NKUW) 6-1, 6-2
4.
Amina Taibi (CSUW) def. Mariajose Hernandez (NKUW) 6-2, 6-2
5.
Nia Cooper (CSUW) def. Angela Rinaldi (NKUW) 6-4, 6-0
6.
Helin Alvarez (CSUW) def. Catharina Cardoso (NKUW) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1.
Manuella Eloundou/
Nia Cooper (CSUW) def. Alyssa Cameron/Mariajose Hernandez (NKUW) 6-2
2. Angela Rinaldi/Didi Steenhuis (NKUW) vs.
Ethel Li/
Sofiya Sedovich (CSUW) 5-2, unfinished
3.
Amina Taibi/
Katarina Dukic (CSUW) def. Ashlee Fisk/Catharina Cardoso (NKUW) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,3,5,6,1,2)
About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University sponsors 16 Division I intercollegiate athletic teams and competes in the Northeast Conference (effective July 2024) with the exception of men's and women's tennis who will compete in the Horizon League during the 2024-25 season. CSU's athletic program includes over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, triathlon and volleyball.
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