Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Eastern Kentucky
Marshall Tennis Downs EKU 6-1
3/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 25, 2012
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University women's tennis team improved to 10-6 for the season and a perfect 6-0 at home with a 6-1 win over the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels on Sunday afternoon.
The Thundering Herd got off to a good start in doubles play, winning all three matches to jump out to an early 1-0 advantage. The No. 3 pair of Kristina Koprcina and Karli Timko finished first for Marshall, quickly overcoming EKU's Kristina Labeja and Melissa Gerritsen for an 8-2 victory. The Herd's No. 1 duo of Dominika Zaprazna and Maria Voscekova wasn't far behind, finishing moments later with an 8-4 win to give Marshall the doubles point. Ellie Ball and Kara Kucin won 8-6 on court three for good measure as the Herd swept the Colonels 3-0 in doubles play.
Marshall also fared well in singles play, moving to 8-0 all-time against EKU by winning five of the six matches. Freshman Ellie Ball kicked things off with a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory over Saioa Oscoz in straight sets, while junior Kara Kucin also secured an easy 6-2, 6-3 win over Milena Poffo.
Sophomore Karli Timko continued her recent run of form in the absence of the injured Kai Broomfield with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win that ensured the Herd victory at four points to none. The Houston, Pa., native has not lost a singles or doubles match since stepping in for Broomfield three matches ago and is riding an impressive three-match winning streak.
After winning her first set 6-3, junior Dominika Zaprazna fought hard to come from 4-5 down in the second set to win 7-5 and clinch the the Herd's fifth point of the match. With the team up 5-0, sophomore Maria Voscekova wrapped-up a straight set, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Labeja, and senior Kristina Koprcina narrowly fell in a third set tiebreaker to Melissa Gerritsen for the Colonels' only point of the match.
"I thought we did a good job today," said Marshall head coach John Mercer. "Eastern Kentucky is really improved and has a bunch of grinders out on the court. We had to work hard to build and finish our points, but I felt like we did it. We did it a little inconsistently at times, but when it came down to it we were able to get it done. Hopefully we can continue to build from this as we look forward to playing again this coming weekend."
The win means the Herd is undefeated in its last seven matches and will be riding high when it travels to face nationally ranked VCU in Richmond, Va., next Saturday. Marshall has not lost a match since February 25.
Players Mentioned
