Tennis Drops First Home Match to JMU

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall's two-match win streak was halted Friday evening, as visiting James Madison (2-1) handed the Thundering Herd (2-2) a 6-1 loss. The match also marked the Herd's first home loss of the season.

"I thought James Madison played a really good match today," head coach John Mercer said. "They're a good team and we just have to get better."

The visiting Dukes got off to a strong start, taking the doubles point with wins at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots. Anna Smith and Victoria Walter were defeated by Daniela Voloh and Abby Amos, 6-2, while Liz Stefancic and Matilde Mulatero fell against Daria Afanasyeva and Jona Roka, 6-2. Madi Ballow and Daniela Dankanych were trailing against the Dukes' Emma Petersen and Amanda Nord, 5-4, before their match went unfinished.

JMU took control of the match in the early portion of singles play, racking up a trio of straight-sets wins to clinch the overall match. Stefancic was defeated by Roka, 6-2, 6-1. Within mere seconds of each other, Ballow was defeated by Petersen (6-4, 6-3) and Walter suffered her first loss of the spring season against Voloh (6-4, 6-2). Dankanych took the first set of her match against Amos before falling in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Mulatero fell in straight sets against Michele Los Arcos, 6-4, 6-3.

Smith won the Herd's lone match of the evening, defeating Afanasyeva in a super tiebreak, 6-7(7), 6-4, 1-0(9).

RESULTS
Singles
1. Anna Smith (Marshall) def. No. 101 Daria Afanasyeva (JMU); 6-7(7), 6-4, 1-0(9)
2. Abbhy Amos (JMU) def. Daniela Dankanych (Marshall); 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Daniela Voloh (JMU) def. Victoria Walter (Marshall); 6-4, 6-2
4. Jona Roka (JMU) def. Liz Stefancic (Marshall); 6-2, 6-1
5. Emma Petersen (JMU) def. Madi Ballow (Marshall); 6-4, 6-3
6. Michele Los Arcos (JMU) def. Matilde Mulatero (Marshall); 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 4,5,3,2,
Doubles
1. Abby Amos/Daniela Voloh (JMU) def. Anna Smith/Victoria Walter (Marshall); 6-2
2. Jona Roka/Daria Afanasyeva (JMU) def. Liz Stefancic/Matilde Mulatero (Marshall); 6-2
3. Emma Petersen/Amanda Nord (JMU) vs. Madi Ballow/Daniela Dankanych (Marshall); 5-4, unfinished
Order of finish: 1,2

UP NEXT
The Herd looks to rebound in its first Conference USA match of the season Sunday when it takes on the Charlotte 49ers at 11 a.m.

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Madi Ballow

Daniela Dankanych

Matilde Mulatero

Anna Smith

Liz Stefancic

Victoria Walter