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W Tennis
vs NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, February 10
Flagstaff, AZ
5 PM
Grand Canyon
2
at
5
Northern Arizona
Grand Canyon downed by Northern Arizona 5-2
2/10/2017 9:22:00 PM | Women's Tennis
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Despite frequent wins from the bottom of the lineup card at No. 4 and 5 singles and No. 3 doubles, the Grand Canyon women's tennis team fell to Northern Arizona on Friday. The 5-2 score didn't tell the complete story for the Lopes, who had a couple of three-set matches narrowly go the way of the Lumberjacks.
"The girls had a tough match today," head coach Greg Prudhomme said. "I was really proud of their effort and their attitude and their fight out on the court."
In the Lumberjacks' home opener, GCU ventured north to the high altitude and indoor venue at Northern Arizona. Although the men's team has gotten some experience in indoor venues this season, it was the first such match for the women's team.
"We definitely had a few things stacked against us," Prudhomme said. "It's tough to come in here and play in the indoor and the high altitude at one of the highest universities in the country. It definitely gives the home team a home court advantage and it's a real away match. But that's why we're here, to test the players and to challenge the team. I think we're better for it."
Lana Rinaldi and Emilia Occhipinti picked up straight-set victories at the No. 4 and 5 singles spots, respectively. Rinaldi won both sets comfortably, while Occhipinti survived a tight first set to cruise in the second.
On the doubles side of things, Alexandra Petrzalkova and Kylie Waschuk emerged victorious, 7-4.
At the No. 1 and 2 singles spots, Tatum Prudhomme and Petrzalkova both pushed their matches to three sets. Petrzalkova's third set was extended to a 10-8 score.
"We definitely wanted to get the win and we were very close," Prudhomme said. "The 5-2 score doesn't really show how close it was with a couple of three-set losses that could have made it go our way. The girls are upset that it didn't go our way but they're fired up to keep fighting hard and get the next one."
The team won't have to deal with unfamiliar opponent venues in the near future, with GCU's next two contests taking place on campus at the GCU Tennis Facility. In the first ever spring matches at the new facility, the Lopes will host Western New Mexico on Wednesday at 10 a.m. MST and Nevada on Thursday at noon.
Results
Singles
No. 1: Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) def. Tatum Prudhomme (GCU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 2: Chiara Tomasetti (NAU) def. Alexandra Petrzalkova (GCU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
No. 3: Blanka Szavay (NAU) def. Susan Baklini (GCU) 6-0, 7-6
No. 4: Lana Rinaldi (GCU) def. Brandy Walker (NAU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 5: Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) def. Marta Lewandowska (NAU) 7-6, 6-1
No. 6: Eirene Granville (NAU) def. Marie Deleval (GCU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1: Chiara Tomasetti/Blanka Szavay (NAU) def. Tatum Prudhomme/Susan Baklini (GCU) 6-1
No. 2: Brandy Walker/Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) def. Lana Rinaldi/Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) 7-2
No. 3: Alexandra Petrzalkova/Kylie Waschuk (GCU) def. Hailey Rochin/Marta Lewandowska (NAU) 7-4
"The girls had a tough match today," head coach Greg Prudhomme said. "I was really proud of their effort and their attitude and their fight out on the court."
In the Lumberjacks' home opener, GCU ventured north to the high altitude and indoor venue at Northern Arizona. Although the men's team has gotten some experience in indoor venues this season, it was the first such match for the women's team.
"We definitely had a few things stacked against us," Prudhomme said. "It's tough to come in here and play in the indoor and the high altitude at one of the highest universities in the country. It definitely gives the home team a home court advantage and it's a real away match. But that's why we're here, to test the players and to challenge the team. I think we're better for it."
Lana Rinaldi and Emilia Occhipinti picked up straight-set victories at the No. 4 and 5 singles spots, respectively. Rinaldi won both sets comfortably, while Occhipinti survived a tight first set to cruise in the second.
On the doubles side of things, Alexandra Petrzalkova and Kylie Waschuk emerged victorious, 7-4.
At the No. 1 and 2 singles spots, Tatum Prudhomme and Petrzalkova both pushed their matches to three sets. Petrzalkova's third set was extended to a 10-8 score.
"We definitely wanted to get the win and we were very close," Prudhomme said. "The 5-2 score doesn't really show how close it was with a couple of three-set losses that could have made it go our way. The girls are upset that it didn't go our way but they're fired up to keep fighting hard and get the next one."
The team won't have to deal with unfamiliar opponent venues in the near future, with GCU's next two contests taking place on campus at the GCU Tennis Facility. In the first ever spring matches at the new facility, the Lopes will host Western New Mexico on Wednesday at 10 a.m. MST and Nevada on Thursday at noon.
Results
Singles
No. 1: Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) def. Tatum Prudhomme (GCU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 2: Chiara Tomasetti (NAU) def. Alexandra Petrzalkova (GCU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
No. 3: Blanka Szavay (NAU) def. Susan Baklini (GCU) 6-0, 7-6
No. 4: Lana Rinaldi (GCU) def. Brandy Walker (NAU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 5: Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) def. Marta Lewandowska (NAU) 7-6, 6-1
No. 6: Eirene Granville (NAU) def. Marie Deleval (GCU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1: Chiara Tomasetti/Blanka Szavay (NAU) def. Tatum Prudhomme/Susan Baklini (GCU) 6-1
No. 2: Brandy Walker/Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) def. Lana Rinaldi/Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) 7-2
No. 3: Alexandra Petrzalkova/Kylie Waschuk (GCU) def. Hailey Rochin/Marta Lewandowska (NAU) 7-4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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