GCU crowns two champions at the Aggie Invitational

Friday, September 23

Las Cruces, NM

Grand Canyon

Aggie Invitational

9/25/2016 4:51:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Samantha Fell

LAS CRUCES – The GCU women's tennis team concluded play at the Aggie Invitational this weekend led by assistant coach Amit Maharaj. The tournament, hosted by New Mexico State University, was the first of the fall season for the Lopes. GCU finished with two champions in their divisions, Susan Baklini in the White Singles Flight and Emilia Occhipinti in the Silver Singles Flight.

"Amit and the team got off to a good start," head coach Greg Prudhomme stated. "There was a balanced effort put in by the returning players along with the new players."

Senior Tatum Prudhomme took third place in the Crimson Singles Flight (No. 1) singles. She won her first match on Friday by a score of 6-1, 6-2 but then fell to Wong of New Mexico on Saturday. In the third place match, Prudhomme defeated her opponent 6-4, 6-3.

Susan Baklini, also a senior, was crowned champion of the White Singles Flight (No. 2) after winning four individual matches. Baklini competed with teammate Lana Rinaldi in the division and went undefeated over the weekend. She defeated Visscher of UTEP 6-3, 6-1 to win on Sunday.

In the Gold Singles Flight (No. 3), Marie Deleval was defeated in the championship match. She won the first two matches of play to advance to the finals but was outlasted by Bennett of UTEP by scores of 7-6, 6-1 to finish in second place.

Freshman Occhipinti won four matches over the weekend to win the championship of the Silver Singles Flight (No. 4). Fellow Lopes Kylie Waschuk and Mya Etienne also competed in the Silver division. Occhipinti made quick work of Van Eeckhoudt of New Mexico State by scores of 6-2, 6-0 to take the title.

In doubles play, partners Prudhomme and Baklini advanced to the finals of the White Flight before falling to Joyce and Keijzerwaard of New Mexico State. GCU's top pair took second place at the tournament after their 2-1 record.

Rinaldi and Occhipinti won the consolation bracket of the Crimson Flight after going 2-1 in bracket play. In the Silver Flight, teammates Deleval and Ettienne also went 2-1 to win the consolation bracket.

The Lopes will travel to San Diego next weekend to compete in the Aztec Fall Invitational. Play will begin on Friday, September 30 and continue until Sunday, October 2.

Crimson Singles Flight
Friday - Prudhomme (GCU) def. Newell (UNM), 6-1, 6-2
Saturday - Wong (UNM) def. Prudhomme (GCU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Sunday - Prudhomme (GCU) def. Valdez (NMS), 6-4, 6-3

White Singles Flight
Friday – Baklini (GCU) def. Barbaroux (TSU), 6-4, 6-2
Friday – Baklini (GCU) def. Copas (UNM), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
Friday – Rinaldi (GCU) def. Chavez (UTPB), 6-1, 6-1
Saturday - Baklini (GCU) def. Harlad (NMS), 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
Saturday – Visscher (UTEP) def. Rinaldi (GCU), 6-3, 6-1
Sunday – Harlas (NMS) def. Rinaldi (GCU), 7-6, 4-6, 6-0
Sunday - Baklini (GCU) def. Visscher (UTEP), 6-3, 6-1

Gold Singles Flight
Friday – Deleval (GCU) def. Adas (TSU), 6-3, 6-2
Saturday – Deleval (GCU) def. Joyce (NMS), 6-4, 6-7, 6-4
Sunday – Bennett (UTEP) def. Deleval (GCU), 7-6, 6-1

Silver Singles Flight
Friday – Occhipinti (GCU) def. Preadca (TSU), 6-4, 6-4
Friday – Etienne (GCU) def. Stevens (TSU), 6-2, 6-4
Friday – Waschuk (GCU) def. Obreque (UTPB), 6-3, 6-0
Friday – Etienne (GCU) def. Preadca (TSU), 7-6, 7-6
Friday – Occhipinti (GCU) def. Siboni (WNM), 6-1, 6-1
Friday – Waschuk (GCU) def. Ochoa (UTPB), 6-1, 6-0
Saturday – Arnaudova (NMS) def. Etienne (GCU), 6-2, 7-5
Saturday – Occhipinti (GCU) def. Ochoa (UTPB), 6-0, 6-1
Saturday – Van Eeckhoudt (NMS) def. Waschuk (GCU), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Sunday – Preadca (TSU) def. Waschuk (GCU), 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
Sunday – Occhipinti (GCU) def. Van Eeckhoudt (NMS), 6-2, 6-0

White Flight Doubles
Friday - Prudhomme/Baklini (GCU) def. Orona/Chavez (UTPB), 8-2
Saturday – Prudhomme/Baklini (GCU) def. Wong/Chung (UNM), 8-1
Sunday – Joyce/Keijzerwaard (NMS) def. Prudhomme/Baklini (GCU), 9-8

Crimson Flight Doubles
Friday – Visscher/Bennett (UTEP) def. Rinaldi/Occhipinti (GCU), 8-5
Saturday – Rinaldi/Occhipinti (GCU) def. Villa/Sanchez (UTPB), 8-2
Sunday – Rinaldi/Occhipinti (GCU) def. Steve/Filling (TSU), 3-2 ret. Injury

Silver Doubles Flight
Friday – Barb/Simm (TSU) def. Deleval/Ettienne (GCU), 8-6
Saturday – Deleval/Ettienne (GCU) def. Ochoa/Obreque (UTPB), 8-3
Sunday – Deleval/Ettienne (GCU) def. Novak/Van Eechhoudt (NMS), 8-6