EVANSVILLE, Ind. – If this weekend's Ohio Valley Conference Individual Tournament was a measuring stick meet for the Western Illinois women's tennis program, then come Spring of 2025, the Leathernecks should fit right in among the best teams in the OVC.
Western Illinois won multiple singles draws, and placed in top spots in the tournament held in Evansville on Saturday and Sunday.
In the No. 6 singles flight,
Mana Fawcett captured one of the Leatherneck singles titles. After receiving a first-round bye, Fawcett stormed to the title match, winning 6-2, 6-2. In the finals, Fawcett earned the championship, winning 7-6 (4), 6-1.
Also winning a championship was
Richardlyne Francois, who won the singles No. 4 flight. Francois won her first-round match 6-1, 6-2. She followed that with a semifinal win, 6-4, 6-3. In the title match, Francois secured another WIU title, winning 6-4, 6-0.
In No. 3 singles,
Chloe Routier gave WIU its third title. Routier won her first match, 6-2, 6-1, then rallied back to win her semifinal match 2-6, 6-3, 10-8. In the finals, the freshman prevailed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
No other team has three singles championships.
In the No. 1 singles flight,
Paige Grice earned a runner-up finish. Grice won her semifinal match, 6-4, 3-0 (retired) before falling in the final.
Also earning a strong finish in No. 2 singles was
Lara Rossetto Diniz de Souza. Rossetto Diniz de Souza won her first match, 0-6, 7-6, 10-7, but fell in the semifinals. The Leatherneck finished fourth, dropping her third-place match, 6-3, 7-5.
In doubles play, Grice and Fawcett continued their strong run, finishing second in No. 2 doubles. The duo won their first match, 6-1, then their semifinal 7-5. In the finals, the pair lost 6-0.
The team of Francois and
Denver Johnson also gave WIU another second-place finish, finishing runner-up at No. 3 doubles. The pair won their first-round match 6-2 and their semifinal 6-4. In the finals, the twosome fell 7-6 (7-4).
At the No. 1 doubles spot, Rossetto Diniz de Souza and
Nour Gueblaoui finished fourth.
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