Marshall University Athletics
Thursday, April 11
Lynchburg, Va.
2:00 p.m.
Marshall University
3
at
4
Liberty
Photo by: Adam Gue
Late Surge Not Enough as Tennis Falls to Liberty
4/11/2019 5:58:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Thundering Herd wins final three singles matches
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty captured the doubles point and each of the first three completed singles matches to defeat the Marshall women's tennis team Thursday afternoon, 4-3, at the Cook Tennis Center. The Herd rallied to win the final three singles matches.
Marshall had its chance to win the doubles point but Liberty clinched with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. Victoria Walter and Matilde Mulatero were defeated at the No. 3 spot, 6-0. Madi Ballow and Liz Stefancic were leading in the No. 1 doubles match but lost 6-4. Anna Smith and Daniela Dankanych were in a tiebreaker but their match went unfinished after the Flames clinched the point.
Liberty's momentum from doubles play transitioned into singles play, as the Flames took each of the first three completed singles matches. Mulatero was defeated by Anna Dollar at the No. 6 spot, 6-2, 6-1. Stefancic fell to Kalani Soli, 6-2, 6-2, at the No. 2 spot and Daniela Dankanych lost to Lara Soares at the No. 3 spot, 6-4, 6-4, to clinch the match for Liberty.
The Herd followed Liberty's run by winning each of the final three matches. Smith downed Ashley Bongart at the top spot, 6-3, 6-4. Ballow improved to 7-1 in her last eight matches with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over Maria Medina at the No. 4 spot. Walter closed the match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Alexandra Almborg at the No. 5 spot.
"It was good to see Anna, Madison and Victoria battle through some adversity and still come out on top," head coach John Mercer said. "Our young players continue to learn what it takes to win at this level. Progress is good. Slow, but good."
RESULTS
Singles
1. Anna Smith (MAR) def. Ashley Bongart (LIB) 6-3, 6-4
2. Kalani Soli (LIB) def. Liz Stefancic (MAR) 6-2, 6-2
3. Lara Soares (LIB) def. Daniela Dankanych (MAR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Madi Ballow (MAR) def. Maria Medina (LIB) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
5. Victoria Walter (MAR) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIB) 7-5, 6-3
6. Anna Dollar (LIB) def. Matilde Mulatero (MAR) 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish: 6,2,3,1,4,5
Doubles
1. Lara Soares/Maria Medina (LIB) def. Madi Ballow/Liz Stefancic (MAR) 6-4
2. Kalani Soli/Alexandra Almborg (LIB) vs. Anna Smith/Daniela Dankanych (MAR) 6-6 (3-3), unfinished
3. Anna Dollar/Ashley Bongart (LIB) def. Victoria Walter/Matilde Mulatero (MAR) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,1
UP NEXT
The Herd closes its regular season Sunday at No. 32 Old Dominion. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
FOLLOW THE #HERDFAMILY
For the latest information on Marshall women's tennis, follow on Twitter at @Herd_Tennis, on Facebook at Herd Tennis and online at HerdZone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Marshall had its chance to win the doubles point but Liberty clinched with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. Victoria Walter and Matilde Mulatero were defeated at the No. 3 spot, 6-0. Madi Ballow and Liz Stefancic were leading in the No. 1 doubles match but lost 6-4. Anna Smith and Daniela Dankanych were in a tiebreaker but their match went unfinished after the Flames clinched the point.
Liberty's momentum from doubles play transitioned into singles play, as the Flames took each of the first three completed singles matches. Mulatero was defeated by Anna Dollar at the No. 6 spot, 6-2, 6-1. Stefancic fell to Kalani Soli, 6-2, 6-2, at the No. 2 spot and Daniela Dankanych lost to Lara Soares at the No. 3 spot, 6-4, 6-4, to clinch the match for Liberty.
The Herd followed Liberty's run by winning each of the final three matches. Smith downed Ashley Bongart at the top spot, 6-3, 6-4. Ballow improved to 7-1 in her last eight matches with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over Maria Medina at the No. 4 spot. Walter closed the match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Alexandra Almborg at the No. 5 spot.
"It was good to see Anna, Madison and Victoria battle through some adversity and still come out on top," head coach John Mercer said. "Our young players continue to learn what it takes to win at this level. Progress is good. Slow, but good."
RESULTS
Singles
1. Anna Smith (MAR) def. Ashley Bongart (LIB) 6-3, 6-4
2. Kalani Soli (LIB) def. Liz Stefancic (MAR) 6-2, 6-2
3. Lara Soares (LIB) def. Daniela Dankanych (MAR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Madi Ballow (MAR) def. Maria Medina (LIB) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
5. Victoria Walter (MAR) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIB) 7-5, 6-3
6. Anna Dollar (LIB) def. Matilde Mulatero (MAR) 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish: 6,2,3,1,4,5
Doubles
1. Lara Soares/Maria Medina (LIB) def. Madi Ballow/Liz Stefancic (MAR) 6-4
2. Kalani Soli/Alexandra Almborg (LIB) vs. Anna Smith/Daniela Dankanych (MAR) 6-6 (3-3), unfinished
3. Anna Dollar/Ashley Bongart (LIB) def. Victoria Walter/Matilde Mulatero (MAR) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,1
UP NEXT
The Herd closes its regular season Sunday at No. 32 Old Dominion. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
FOLLOW THE #HERDFAMILY
For the latest information on Marshall women's tennis, follow on Twitter at @Herd_Tennis, on Facebook at Herd Tennis and online at HerdZone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Ashley Bongart / 0 [LIB]
34
#2 Singles Match
12
22
Kalani Soli / 0 [LIB]
66
#3 Singles Match
12
44
Lara Soares / 0 [LIB]
66
#4 Singles Match
123
646
Maria Medina / 0 [LIB]
263
#5 Singles Match
12
76
Alexandra Almborg / 0 [LIB]
53
#6 Singles Match
12
21
Anna Dollar / 0 [LIB]
66
Order of Finish:
6,2,3,1,4,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Season Hype
Friday, April 28