Western Illinois Falls To IUPUI In Summit League Opener

Natalia Bravo and Jenna Wallace both won their singles matches

GALESBURG, Ill.- Western Illinois women's tennis fell in its Summit League opener to IUPUI on Saturday (March 31) 5-2. The match was moved from the outdoor tennis courts in Macomb to an indoor venue in Galesburg due to weather.

"We fought our hearts out but came up just short in a couple of decisive matches," head coach Mirko Bjelica said. "Bravo and Wallace did especially well today."

IUPUI got off to a fast start by sweeping the three doubles matches to take the first point. The pair of Courtney Lubbers and Jenna Wallace took Sara Sheif and Smanatha Mayer of IUPUI down the wire before falling 7-6.

Natalia Bravo impressively defeated Sherif in the No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-3. Shortly after, Wallace edged Marina Schneiger 6-3, 6-4 in two sets at the No. 5 singles.

The Leathernecks have a short turnaround as they travel to take on South Dakota in another Summit League match on Sunday (April 2) at 1 p.m.

Match Results:
No. 1 doubles: Sara Sherif/Samantha Mayer (IUPUI) def. Courtney Lubbers/Jenna Wallace (WIU) 7-6
No. 2 doubles: Valeriia Lavrenchuk/Mariella Pessiana (IUPUI) def. Natalia Bravo/Laura Ballesteros (WIU) 6-2
No. 3 doubles: Marina Schneiger/Molly Nguyen (IUPUI) def. Cary Milanes/Nicole Jones (WIU) 6-3

No. 1 singles: Lavrenchuk (IUPUI) def. Courtney Lubbers (WIU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 singles: Natalia Bravo (WIU) def. Sherif (IUPUI) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 singles: Mayer (IUPUI) def. Anna Daniel Fuentes (WIU) 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
No. 4 singles: Pessina (IUPUI) def. Laura Ballesteros (WIU) 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 singles: Jenna Wallace (WIU) def. Schneiger (IUPUI) 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 singles: Nguyen (IUPUI) def. Cary Milanes (WIU) 7-6, 7-5

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Players Mentioned

Nicole Jones: Senior

Courtney Lubbers: Junior

Jenna Wallace: Senior

Natalia Bravo: 5' 6"; Freshman; Colegio Bilingue Buckingham

Anna Daniel Fuentes: Freshman; La Salle Tarragona

Cary Milanes: Junior; Miami Palmetto

Laura Ballesteros: Freshman; Castellar Del Valles

Players Mentioned

Nicole Jones
: Senior

Courtney Lubbers
: Junior

Jenna Wallace
: Senior

Natalia Bravo
: 5' 6"; Freshman; Colegio Bilingue Buckingham

Anna Daniel Fuentes
: Freshman; La Salle Tarragona

Cary Milanes
: Junior; Miami Palmetto

Laura Ballesteros
: Freshman; Castellar Del Valles