By Andrew Krumme And Chris Brown
A four-match series Sunday night against IUPUI finished off what may be one of the women’s tennis team’s busiest weekends of the spring season. The Cardinals defeated Austin Peay, Toledo, Chattanooga, and IUPUI at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center over the weekend to improve their spring season record to 6-1.
The team served a 7-0 thumping to Austin Peay State University on Friday afternoon, dropping only two games in three doubles matches against the Governors.
Coach Greg Davis acknowledged how important it was to start the weekend on the right foot.
“We played well and were very focused. We have four matches this weekend, and [this] was a great start,” he said.
The Cardinals continued to roll as they shot down the Toledo Rockets 7-0 Friday evening. Senior Leslie Stewart held down the No. 1 singles spot, beating Toledo’s top player, Muriam Cueva, in three sets.
Senior Kelly Taylor also won, picking up where she left off last week after being named Conference USA Player of the Week. She was recognized for her efforts in helping Louisville win two out of its three matches the previous weekend.
Robyn White, Natalie Laszkowski, Suzanna Gracanin and Ariana Marshall also won, dropping no more than three games in their respective matches.
Doubles duos of Stewart and Gracanin, Laszkowski and Taylor, and Marshall and White pulled out victories for the doubles point tally as well.
“We played a great match. We were really playing very hard each time out on the court and when that happens, it gives the team a great chance to win,” Davis said of the team’s campaign against Toledo.
The team carried its momentum into Sunday where it pummeled the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in a 6-1 victory.
“We played our best singles victory of the year to date,” said Davis.
Doubles players shined too in their Sunday matches. Taylor and Laszkowski and Marshall and White pulled 8-0 wins over the Mocs. No. 1 pair Stewart and Gracanin fought what some called a tough battle as Stewart re-aggravated an injury that has hampered her since last year. In the end, they managed an 8-6 victory against Chattanooga’s Lindsey Ballard and Bethany Everett.
The Cardinals won every singles match with 6-0 sweeps from the No. 4-No. 6 spots in Sunday’s evening competition against IUPUI. Louisville also swept the doubles, although Mallory Stemle and Michelle Cunningham took U of L’s Stewart and Gracanin to 9-7 before bowing out at the No. 1 spot.
With what was most likely its busiest weekend of this spring finished, the women’s team looks to this weekend’s action. “We played very well in singles [Sunday]. We have a very tough weekend ahead playing against Marshall and North Carolina State,” Davis said. “We hope to be able to compete well with those difficult opponents.”
