GCU falls to in-state rival Arizona

TUCSON - The Grand Canyon women's tennis team was defeated by the University of Arizona on Saturday afternoon by a score of 4-0. Due to clinch scoring, not all individual and doubles matches were completed. The Lopes fall to 1-1 for the season.

"Our girls played well and competed hard against a tough team," assistant coach Amit Maharaj commented. "The score on paper doesn't reflect the effort all our girls put out on the courts. It's hard when you're playing clinch, and I would have liked to see how some of the matches we were up in would have turned out."

Among those Lopes leading unfinished matches were Susan Baklini and Emilia Occhipinti. At No. 2 singles, Baklini led Chypyha of Arizona by scores of 6-4, 4-1 when the Wildcats clinched the match. Occhipinti led Wesbrooks of Arizona 7-5, 1-1 at the same time. Both matches were left unfinished because the outcomes would not have impacted the overall result of the match.

In doubles play, Baklini and partner Tatum Prudhomme were again left with some unfinished business. The GCU duo led by a score of 5-3 at No. 1 doubles and would have needed one more point to seal the win when doubles play was clinched by the Wildcats.

Regardless of the outcome, Maharaj felt that the contest was beneficial. "I'm proud of our girls and we will work hard and get ready for our next match," he added.

Next up, GCU will face another in-state competitor. The Lopes travel north to Flagstaff on Friday, Feb. 10 to square off against Northern Arizona at 5 p.m. The contest will be played at the NAU Tennis Center, the home of the Lumberjacks.

Arizona 4, Grand Canyon University 0

Singles competition
1. #18 Marker,Lauren (ARIZ) def. Tatum Prudhomme (WGCU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Czarniak,Samantha (ARIZ) vs. Alexandra Petrzalkov (WGCU) 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
3. Chypyha,Devin (ARIZ) vs. Susan Baklini (WGCU) 4-6, 1-4, unfinished
4. Corley,Paris (ARIZ) def. Celina Buhr (WGCU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Aelst,Marie Van (ARIZ) def. Lana Rinaldi (WGCU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Wesbrooks,Camila (ARIZ) vs. Emilia Occhipinti (WGCU) 5-7, 1-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Marker,Lauren/Czarniak,Samantha (ARIZ) vs. Tatum Prudhomme/Susan Baklini (WGCU) 3-5, unfinished
2. Corley,Paris/Aelst,Marie Van (ARIZ) def. Lana Rinaldi/Emilia Occhipinti (WGCU) 6-2
3. Chypyha,Devin/Wesbrooks,Camila (ARIZ) def. Alexandra Petrzalkov/Celina Buhr (WGCU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Grand Canyon University 1-1
Arizona 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,1,5)

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Players Mentioned

Susan Baklini

Celina Buhr

Emilia Occhipinti

Tatum Prudhomme

Lana Rinaldi

Grand Canyon University Athletics