Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Virginia Tech
@Herd_Tennis Bounces Back, Rallies to Defeat Hokies
2/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 12, 2017
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Marshall women's tennis team rebounded
The Herd improved to 5-2 with the win, its third over a Power Five conference opponent this season. Virginia Tech, who was ranked as high as No. 18 in some polls, dropped to 4-2 with the loss.
The Herd won the doubles point with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. Stephanie Smith and Daniela Dankanych defeated Sansitha Nandakumar and Natalie Novotna, 6-3. Derya Turhan and Anna Pomyatinskaya won the point for the Herd with a 6-4 win over Elena Cerezo-Codina and Caroline Daxhelet. Maddie Silver and Rachael Morales lost in doubles for the first time since the 2015 season, dropping a 6-2 decision to Francesca Fusinato and Katherine Butler.
The Herd dropped the first two singles matches to fall behind, 2-1, but recovered to win the final four matches to defeat the Hokies. The Herd won the final three matches in three sets with the last two going to tiebreakers. Pomyatinskaya opened singles play with a 6-3, 6-2
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Derya Turhan/Anna Pomyatinskaya (Marshall) def. No. 51 Elena Cerezo-Codina/Caroline Daxhelet (VT); 6-4
2. Katherine Butler/Francesca Fusinato (VT) def. Maddie Silver/Rachael Morales (Marshall); 6-2
3. Stephanie Smith/Daniela Dankanych (Marshall) def. Sansitha Nandakumar/Natalie Novotna (VT); 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. Derya Turhan (Marshall) def. No. 66 Francesca Fusinato (VT); 6-3, 6-4
2. Stephanie Smith (Marshall) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT); 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8)
3. No. 122 Maddie Silver (Marshall) def. No. 52 Caroline Daxhelet (VT); 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
4. Natalie Novotna (VT) def. Anna Pomyatinskaya (Marshall); 6-3, 6-2
5. Rachael Morales (Marshall) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (VT); 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4)
6. Nancy Ghanem (VT) def. Daniela Dankanych (Marshall); 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 6, 1, 3, 5, 2
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes from head coach John Mercer
On the match…
It was a great college tennis match. It came down to two third-set tiebreakers to determine the winner. Fortunately, Rachael (Morales) and Stephanie (Smith) were able to pull them out. Give Virginia Tech a lot of credit for fighting back after we took the doubles point.
On the individual performances against ranked competition…
Derya (Turhan) played an awesome match. Just a solid performance from the beginning to the end against one of the top players in the nation. Maddie (Silver) was also very mentally tough today. She was able to come back and win two sets after having a couple of set points in the first set get away from her.
On Anna Pomyatinskaya and Daniela Dankanych
Even though Anna and Dani weren't able to win their singles matches, they were awesome in their doubles matches to help get us off to a 1-0 lead.
On the team…
I was really proud of our team and how hard they competed throughout the entire match. I think it says a lot about the character of our team. Today was just a great team effort. We're looking forward to Friday and having Louisville at home.
#ONEHERD
For the latest information on Marshall women's tennis, follow @Herd_Tennis on Twitter, @herdtennis on Instagram and Herd Tennis on Facebook.
UP NEXT
The Herd returns home for a match against Louisville Friday evening.
Players Mentioned
