KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Missouri Baptist University women's tennis team opened its season with a 6-1 victory on the road over NCAA Division II Truman State University on Friday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m.
The Spartans opened strong in doubles play, winning all three matches before claiming five of six singles matches.
In the No. 1 doubles matchup, juniors
Yvonne Shannon and
Melissa Jangarasheva defeated Truman State's Finley LaForge and Mary Grace Seymour, 6-2. Seniors
Lucia Rubio and
Munisa Ashurbekova also earned a 6-2 victory in the No. 2 matchup against Belle Daniels and Rachel Bivens.Â
Freshman
Natalie Haug and senior
Jocelynn Carmody completed the doubles sweep with a 6-3 win over Leah Weisinger and Amelia Willing at No. 3.Â
MBU carried momentum into singles play, earning five wins in six matches, including four in straight sets.
Ashurbekova defeated Nayana Malangi, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 1, while Rubio followed with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over LaForge. Shannon beat Seymour, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 3, and Carmody won 6-4, 6-3, against Daniels.
Jangarasheva battled Bivens through three sets, claiming the win, 5-7, 6-4, 11-9, at No. 5.Â
Haug fell to Truman's Emily Peterson in another tight matchup at No. 6, 6-4, 4-6, 8-10.
Under head coach
Scott Goodyear, the Spartans look to build upon a successful start as they head into ITA Regionals in Goshen, Indiana, Wednesday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 27.
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