Western Drops Contest To South Dakota On The Road

Western returns to competition on March 29 against South Dakota State.

OMAHA, Neb. – The Western Illinois women's tennis team lost 5-2 to South Dakota on the road Sunday. The Coyotes improve to 8-8 and the Leathernecks fall to 7-7.

"We fought again, but came up short against a very good South Dakota team, said head coach Mirko Bjelica. "We have a week off to regroup and hopefully make a comeback in league play."

South Dakota started fast and secured the doubles point. The Coyotes took a 2-0 lead after Laura Ballesteros lost to Habiba Aly 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 3 spot. Western got on the board with Ana Bjelica (No. 5) defeating Luana Stanciu 6-2, 6-4. The freshman is now tied withe her sister for a team-leading nine victories in singles play.

At the score 2-1, South Dakota took the next three singles matches to earn their second League win of the season. Jana Lazarevic topped Natalia Bravo, 6-3, 6-4 in the No. 1 spot and Barbora Kollarova won 7-5, 6-1 over Courtney Lubbers in the No. 2 spot. Habiba Aly of South Dakota earned match-clinching victory with a 6-0, 6-3 win against Cary Milanes. Mary Bjelica (No. 6) still played out here match and won in three sets 4-6, 7-6, 10-8. She finished the weekend 2-0 in singles play with each win coming in three sets.

Western will now have 10 days off before returning to Summit League play against South Dakota State on March 29 in Tulsa.

Match Results:
No.1 doubles- Jana Lazarevic/Anastasiia Bondarenko (USD) def. Courtney Lubbers/Natalia Bravo (WIU) 6-2
No.2 doubles- Barbora Kollarova/Nanette Nylund (USD) vs. Cary Milanes/Laura Ballesteros (WIU) 4-4, unfinished
No.3 doubles- Habiba Aly/Luana Stanciu (USD) def. Mary Bjelica/Ana Bjelica (WIU) 6-2

No.1 singles- Jana Lazarevic (USD) def. Natalia Bravo (WIU) 6-3, 6-4
No.2 singles- Barbora Kollarova (USD) def. Courtney Lubbers (WIU) 7-5, 6-1
No.3 singles- Habiba Aly (USD) def. Laura Ballesteros (WIU) 6-0, 6-3
No.4 singles- Anastasiia Bondarenko (USD) def. Cary Milanes (WIU) 3-6, 6-1 (6-1)
No.5 singles- Ana Bjelica (WIU) def. Lauana Stanciu (USD) 6-2, 6-4
No.6 singles- Mary Bjelica (WIU) def. Nanette Nylund (USD) 4-6, 7-6, 10-8

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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

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

Ana Bjelica
: Freshman; Homeschooled

Mary Bjelica
: Freshman; Homeschooled