GCU drops nail biter to Air Force

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Grand Canyon women's tennis team wrapped up the weekend in Colorado with a matchup against Air Force. GCU was able to win two doubles matches along with two victories in singles play but the Lopes fell to AFA 4-3. GCU is now 2-2 this season.

"I'm proud of our girls. They came out fighting hard and with lots of energy," assistant coach Amit Maharaj said. "We fell short today but we will use this experience to get better for our next match. It's hard to single out any one player in a match like this because they all fought hard and gave every last ounce of energy they had."

The duo of Lana Macukat and Lana Rinaldi came away with GCU's first victory of the day on court three in doubles play. Macukat and Rinaldi took down Lily Forlini and Elisa Nelson 6-2 for the first victory of the day. To clinch the match, GCU would pull out the 6-2 victory on court one from Tatum Prudhomme and Susan Baklini.

Prudhomme would cap off her pefect 2-0 day against the Falcons with a 6-0, 6-2 victory in singles. In the No. 1 battle, Prudhomme would defeat Mary Meyers for GCU's first win in singles. Air Force would win three of the first four matches to finish in singles play to take a 3-2 lead. Baklini would tie the match on court three to keep GCU alive. Baklini would take the first set 7-6 against Elizabeth Barnickel but after dropping the second set 7-6, Baklini would rally in the third set 6-3 to keep GCU alive.

In the final match of the day, AFA would win on court five in a tough three-set match to pull out the 4-3 victory.

"We will regroup, rest up, practice tomorrow, and get ready for our match on Tuesday," Maharaj said.

GCU will have a quick turnaround as they head home for its first match of the season at home. The Lopes will host Princeton on Tuesday, Jan. 26, and the match will begin at 11 a.m.

Results

Doubles
No. 1: Tatum Prudhomme/Susan Baklini (GCU) def. Mary Meyers/Elizabeth Barnickel (AFU) – (6-2)
No. 2: Alexandra Petrzalkova/Kylie Waschuk (GCU) vs. Chloe Forlini/Jocelle Rudico (AFU) – (DNF)
No. 3. Lana Macukat/Lana Rinaldi (GCU) def. Lily Forlini/Elisa Nelson (AFU) – (6-2)
Order of Finish: 3,1

Singles
No. 1: Tatum Prudhomme (GCU) def. Mary Meyers (AFU) – (6-0, 6-2)
No. 2: Chlose Forlini (AFU) def. Alexandra Petrzalkova (GCU) – (6-0, 6-4)
No. 3: Susan Baklini (GCU) def. Elizabeth Barnickel (AFU) – (7-6, 6-7, 6-3)
No. 4: Lily Forlini (AFU) def. Lana Macukat (GCU) – (1-6, 6-3, 7-5)
No. 5: Jocelle Rudico (AFU) def. Lana Rinaldi (GCU) – (1-6, 6-4, 6-3)
No. 6: Elisa Nelson (AFU) def. Marie Deleval (GCU) – (6-2, 6-1)
Order of Finish: 2,1,4,6,3,5

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Players Mentioned

Susan Baklini

Lana Macukat

Tatum Prudhomme

Lana Rinaldi

Grand Canyon University Athletics