April 5, 2024-The Emporia State men's and women's tennis teams fell to nationally ranked Northwest Missouri teams on Friday afternoon at the Kossover Family Tennis Center. The women fell 5-2 while the men dropped a 4-3 decision.
Men
#40 NWMSU 4, ESU 3
In men's action #40 Northwest Missouri edged out Emporia State 4-3.
The Bearcats won the first two completed matches to take the doubles point, but
Anton Sarunic and
Sergio Vera Martin were able to pull out a 7-6 (7-3) win at #1 doubles.
The teams would then split the six singles matches. Northwest Missouri went up 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win by Mason Meier over Vera Martin at #3 singles. In a battle of top 50 players Emporia State's
Anton Sarunic, who is ranked #48 nationally, fell to 25
th ranked Area Zamurri 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 to give Northwest Missouri a 3-0 lead. The Hornets
Mostafa Elbasnaly would go three sets with Michael Delebois before falling 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at #2 singles to clinch the dual for the Bearcats.
Harrison Brown won 6-3, 6-1 at #5 while
Diego Calvo earned a 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) win at #4 and
Hachem Fahem finished the dual with a 6-3, 7-5 win at #6 singles for the Hornets.
Women
#17 NWMSU 5, ESU 2
The Hornet women had an early 2-0 lead but could not pull out the win in a 5-2 loss to the 17
th ranked Bearcats.
Emporia State started out with an advantage as Northwest only had five players available to play. After the Bearcats won 6-1 at #2 doubles, Lili Bizouerne and
Paige Stranghoner won 6-2 at #1 to give the Hornets the doubles point and a 2-0 lead.
Sofia Pignataro got the first point for NWMSU with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Lili Bizouerne at #2 singles.
Perla Conde Vendrell would go three sets with Carolina Oliveira before falling 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 as the Bearcats evened the dual at 2-2. ESU's
Giovanna Ferreira would go three sets with Marielena Muench at #3 singles before NWMSU pulled ahead with a 6-7 (3-7), 6-0, 6-3 win.
Angelina Gnezdilova made it three, three set matches in singles play as she fell 6-2, 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 to Laura Prieto Sieiro at #4 singles to clinch the dual for the Bearcats. Angela per Moreno got the final point for NWMSU with a 6-4, 6-0 win at #5 over
Anastasia Pesic.
Both Emporia State teams will be back in action Tuesday, April 9 when they play host to McPherson College in non-conference action. First serve for both teams is set for 1:00 p.m.
