Strong Singles Play Lifts Penguins to Second Straight Horizon League Title

by YSU

Tuesday, Apr 28, 2015 8:30 am

West Lafayette, Ind. - The Youngstown State women's tennis team won four singles matches to claim its second straight Horizon League Championship as the Penguins defeated Detroit 4-2 at the Purdue Schwartz Tennis Center.

The Penguins fought off a strong performance by second-seed Detroit. YSU lost the doubles point forcing it to win four singles matches to claim its second straight title. Wins by Marta Burak, Dominika Lackova, Sofia Macias Mendoza and Julianna Heino propelled the Guins to the 4-2 win.

The Titans took advantage of strong wind to grab two of the three doubles matches.

But the Penguins regrouped in singles.

Burak dropped her first point to Sasha Nionova before winning the next 12 to close out a 6-1, 6-0 match in about 45 minutes at No. 1.

Macias Mendoza was the next Penguin to win with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Nynke Van Der Goot in the No. 6 spot.

Lackova won in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 against Valeryia Kulikovskaya at No. 2 to put the Penguins in front 3-1. Lackova trailed in the first set 5-2 before rallying with the next five points.

After that is was a back-and-forth battle at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5.

While Heino and Brendel were in their third sets, Sahni lost 7-6, 6-3 to Irina Slizoskaya at No. 3.

Heino jumped out to a lead in the first set but dropped it 7-5 to Viktoria Laskutova. In the second, Heino won 6-2 to set up a comeback in the third set. Heino was down 4-2 before winning two consecutive points to tie the third set at four. However, Laskutova took a 5-4 lead and was on serve. But Heino broke and then held serve to go ahead 6-5. Heino took a 40-15 lead, but Laskutova fought off the first championship point. However, Laskutova hit a Heino return into the net and gave the 7-5 set to the Guins.

Brendel was in a nip-and-tuck affair with Anna Davydova. Brendel won the first set easily 6-2, before dropping the second 6-2. The match was tied at three late when Heino clinched the match.

The victory was YSU's school-record 11th straight and helps the Guins establish a new single-season record for victories at 17. Detroit ends the year at 16-9.

The Guins won the first complete doubles match, but the Titans won the next two to earn the point and force YSU to win four singles matches.

(1) Youngstown State 4, (2) Detroit 2

Doubles:

1. Marta Burak/Julianna Heino (Youngstown State) vs. Irina Slizoskaya/Anna Davydova (Detroit) – DET, 6-3
2. Annina Brendel/Nehel Sahni (Youngstown State) vs. Viktoria Laskutova/Nino Sujashvili (Detroit) – DET, 6-3
3. Dominika Lackova/Sofia Macias (Youngstown State) vs. Valeryia Kulikovskaya/Sasha Nionova (Detroit) – YSU, 6-3

Order of finish: 3-1-2

Singles:

1. Marta Burak (Youngstown State) vs. Sasha Nionova (Detroit) – YSU, 6-1, 6-0
2. Dominika Lackova (YSU) vs. Valeryia Kulikovskaya  (Detroit)  – YSU, 7-5, 6-3
3. Annina Brendel (Youngstown State) vs. Anna Davydova (Detroit) – tied 6-2, 2-6, 3-3 unfinished
4. Nehel Sahni (Youngstown State) vs. Irina Slizoskaya  (Detroit) – DET, 7-6(5), 6-3
5. Julianna Heino (Youngstown State) vs. Viktoria Laskutova (Detroit) – YSU, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
6. Sofia Macias (Youngstown State) vs. Nynke Van Der Goot (Detroit) – YSU, 6-2, 6-2

Order of finish: 1-6-2-4-5

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