Lopes shut out Bearkats on Senior Day

Sunday, April 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Sam Houston

Photo by: Taylor Hansen

4/2/2023 2:04:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

GCU finishes home slate with 7-0 win

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's tennis team wrapped up its home schedule with a 7-0 shutout win over Sam Houston on Sunday.

The Lopes (10-8, 4-2 WAC) were dominant in the final dual at GCU Tennis Facility, not dropping a set against the Bearkats (4-10, 1-4 WAC) in nine matches across singles and doubles. Seniors Natasha Puehse and Madeline Lamoreaux were sent off in style on their Senior Day with two straight-set singles wins and two doubles wins.

The Lopes took the doubles point with wins on all three courts. Puehse and junior Santa Strombacha started the match with a 6-2 win at Court 1, improving to 4-1 in WAC play and 12-2 overall this season. At Court 2, Lamoreaux and freshman Anali Kocevar battled back from a 5-4 deficit by winning three games in a row to clinch the doubles point with a 7-5 win.

Sophomore Valentina Del Marco and freshman Dani Deaifi wrapped up doubles with a 6-4 win at No. 3

Singles play was more of the same for the Lopes as they took the first set on all six courts. Kocevar was the first to finish winning 6-1, 6-1 on court four to put the Lopes up 2-0. The stage was set for the seniors as Puehse and Lamoreaux finished nearly at the same time to clinch the dual-match win.

Puehse and Lamoreaux each won 6-1, 6-1 in their matches at Courts 1 and 5. For Puehse, it is her 12th win of the season while Lamoreaux picked up her 14th win while each of them now at 4-0 in WAC play.

The Lopes wrapped up the other three courts in straight sets. Del Marco had her best victory of conference play, winning 6-0, 6-1 at Court 6 while Strombacha and Deaifi had straight-set wins at Courts 2 and 3.

The Lopes will hit the road for the final two weeks of the regular season, traveling first to Tarleton and Abilene Christian on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.