Women's Tennis Victorious Over Loras 5-4
Sep 28, 2016
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's tennis team moved to 4-2 in the Iowa Conference and 5-3 overall after capturing a hard fought, thrilling 5-4 victory at Loras College's Bernie O'Connor Tennis Center.
Arantxa Martinez and Marissa Joers captured the #1 doubles set 8-5, but the host Duhawks rallied to win #2 doubles by a score of 8-6 and #3 doubles by a 8-3 margin. UD trailed the match after the doubles 1-2 and would need to win four out of six singles matches to capture the conference match-up.
At #1 singles UD's Arantxa Martinez defeated Kylie DeWees in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. UD's Ines Albino defeated Jessica Dickhut in #2 singles by a 6-1, 6-1. Loras' Emma Cooke (LORW) captured set over the Spartans Marissa Joers 6-0, 6-1 and the Duhawks captured #4 singles McKenna Craff over UD's Ashley Palacios-Quinonez (DBQW) in a battle though a third set tie break 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Loras took the led 4-3 with the Spartans needing to win the #5 and #6 singles to capture the league match. It wasn't easy for the Spartans as UD's Megan Ranney pushed to a third set tie break victory over Ayla Graziano (LORW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. At #6 singles UD's Naomi Amani and her opponent were about as even a match as you could have wished for. Amani would win the marathon over Rachael Molidor 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to help the Spartans capture the match for head coach Claudio Giraldi.
"Very good win for the Spartans tonight," commented coach Caudio Giraldi. "The 5-4 win was very tough, we were all watching the last match with Amani on the court in that third set and she brought it home and that was amazing. All the ladies really fought hard today with three of the matches going into a third set. It was the Spartans first win in four years over the Duhawks and the first time in school history the Spartans will be playing in the conference tournament in the fall. We can celebrate tonight, but tomorrow we're back on the court preparing for this weekend's two road conference match-ups with Central College and Simpson College and we look forward to those matches."
