Women’s Tennis Opens Up Summit League Play Saturday

Leathernecks aim to keep 4-match winning streak alive

MACOMB, Ill – After closing out the non-league schedule on Tuesday with a 4-3 win over Southeast Missouri, the Western Illinois women's tennis team opens up Summit League play Saturday against Omaha at noon. The Leathernecks will stay in Omaha and take on South Dakota Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: Western started fast and secured the doubles point. Ana and Mary Bjelica in the No. 3 spot won their match by default. Courtney Lubbers and Natalia Bravo fell 6-3 to Oleksandra Doroshenko and Kseniya Zonova. Senior Cary Milanes and sophomore Laura Ballesteros teamed up in the No. 2 spot for a come from behind 7-6 victory to give WIU a 1-0 advantage to start singles play.

The Leathernecks took a 2-0 lead after Andrea Haines (No. 6) won her match by default improving to 2-0 on the season. Ana Bjelica replaced Milanes in the No. 4 spot and won 6-3, 6-2 to increase the lead by three. Southeast Missouri responded right back and won the next three single matches to tie it up.

In dramatic fashion, the match came down to two freshmen for each school in the No. 5 spot. Southeast Missouri seemed they were going to complete the comeback after Maja Lundell won the first set 6-4 over Mary Bjelica. Bjelica then took the second set 6-4 to force a third set tiebreaker. In the third set, Lundell was one point away from winning the match point, but Bjelica rallied to win 7-6 to give the Leathernecks their seventh victory of the spring

HEAD COACH MIRKO BJELICA ON BEGINNING SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAY: "Expect very close matches this weekend. It's likely against Omaha that very little will separate the two teams. Against South Dakota they are the favorites but I do believe that we will have our chances too. One thing that does seem quite certain to me is that we have a long weekend of on court battles"

ADDING TO THE HARDWARE: Natalia Bravo was named to the preseason Summit League 'Players to Watch' list after posting a 13-10 record in No. 2 singles. The Colombian native was also named Summit League Newcomer of the Year, League Academic Honor Roll and received All-League honors. Recently, Bravo finished the fall season on a strong note by winning two matches at the ITA Central Regionals. She wrapped up the fall slate by putting together a 4-3 record in the No. 1 singles spot, contributing to four wins in No. 1 double plays as well. Bravo moved into the No. 1 spot this season and owns a 6-5 record.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP: This season, Courtney Lubbers has led the way for the Leathernecks. She owns an 8-3 record in the No. 2 spot and has contributed to three victories to doubles play in the No. 1 spot. The Wichita, Kan., native went 3-0 in singles play during a 3-match stretch (Feb. 16-18) and finished 2-0 during a 2-match stretch (March 2-3). Lubbers also has a match-clinching victory to her resume this year against Missouri State.

COACHING SUCCESS: Third-year head coach Mirko Bjelica looks to keep the trend of improving each season. Last year, he coached the Leathernecks to a 9-14 record overall and 3-3 mark in Summit League play. That was their best league record since the 2009-2010 season after finishing 6-13 overall record and 0-6 in League play the year before.

FRESH POWER: Both Ana Bjelica and Mary Bjelica have already made a big impact during their first season as Leatherneck. They each are tied with Senior Lubbers for a team-leading eight wins in singles. Ana owns a 6-2 record in the No. 5 spot and has also won in the No. 4 and 5 spot. Mary is a perfect 6-0 in the No. 6 spot and has two wins in the No. 5 spot. The freshmen have teamed up in doubles to put together a team best four victories.

TIED AT EIGHT: Ana Bjelica, Mary Bjelica, and Courtney Lubbers all enter Summit League play with eight victories in singles.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS: Omaha will host Oral Roberts, South Dakota and Western Illinois in Summit League action this weekend. The Mavericks come into league play with a 7-8 record and are 4-4 at home. Recently, they are coming off a split doubleheader last Friday in Chicago. The Mavericks dropped to Oakland 2-4 and defeated Chicago State 5-2. Junior Janelle Wilson leads Omaha with a 7-2 record in the No. 2 spot. On Tuesday Senior Michelle Lo was named Summit League Women's Tennis Player of the Week. She has been part of eight wins in doubles and owns a 5-6 singles record in the No. 1 spot.

SCOUTING THE COYOTES: South Dakota travels to Omaha standing at 6-8 and 2-4 on the road. The Coyotes are coming of a lost to North Carolina State (0-8) on March 9. They are led by Senior Barbora Kollarova and Sophomore Nanette Nylund. Kollarova has a singles record of 10-4 in the No. 2 spot. Nylund sits at 8-5 in singles.

UP NEXT: Western will have the week off, then resuming Summit League play in Tulsa to take on South Dakota State (March 29) and Oral Roberts (March 31).

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Players Mentioned

Laura Ballesteros: Sophomore; Castellar Del Valles

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

Courtney Lubbers: Senior

Cary Milanes: Senior; Miami Palmetto

Andrea Haines: Sophomore

Ana Bjelica: Freshman; Homeschooled

Mary Bjelica: Freshman; Homeschooled

Players Mentioned

Laura Ballesteros
: Sophomore; Castellar Del Valles

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

Courtney Lubbers
: Senior

Cary Milanes
: Senior; Miami Palmetto

Andrea Haines
: Sophomore

Ana Bjelica
: Freshman; Homeschooled

Mary Bjelica
: Freshman; Homeschooled