ESU tennis has mixed results against Truman
Ken Easthouse
Monday, April 2, 2007
Emporia State split its tennis matches against Truman on Sunday at Emporia High, with the women winning, 7-2, while the men fell, 7-2.
On the women’s side, the Hornets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after doubles play, giving up only four games.
“We love doubles as a team, and we tend to show that when we come out to play,” junior Natalie Villafor said. “It’s a key factor for our team.”
The women ran into slight problems in the singles matches, where ESU dropped the Nos. 1 and 3 matches.
“I think we really weren’t prepared for more challenges in singles matches,” coach John Cayton said. “We were fat and we really didn’t hunker down and prepare for a solid match from the other team on the singles, especially in the top three.”
Villafor also struggled at No. 2 singles, winning in three sets after two tiebreakers.
“I don’t know what happened,” Villafor said. “The good thing is we were able to pull it out as a team.”
The bottom of the singles swept through easily though, giving the women a 7-2 win.
“I think so much of the three singles matches was mental,” Cayton said, “and I feel like if we would have buckled down and done our job we would have gone 9-0.”
The men started off slower, going 1-2 in doubles action, with the difference being a closely contested loss at No. 2 doubles.
“We still continue to work on doubles play,” Cayton said. “That’s key for us.”
Nathan Mai and Julian Rios had the sole win at No. 1 doubles with a decisive 8-3 win. The two were paired together only recently, according to Mai.
“We just got to be partners a couple weeks ago and we play really well,” Mai said. “I’m just looking forward to playing with him some more.”
The men’s singles matches were all tightly contested, with five of the six going into the third set. However, only Mai emerged with a win at No. 2.
“It just shows both teams are really close and the matches can go either way,” Mai said.
Cayton said the 7-2 loss by the men isn’t an indication of how close the matches were.
“Some of those matches could have gone either way,” Cayton said. “They took advantage of a few more chances than we didn’t, and it paid off for them.”
ESU will play host to Washburn on Wednesday. It is a crucial matchup for the women, with both squads sitting at the top of the MIAA.
“We got them in our place this year, which is nice,” Cayton said. “It’s going to be key for who gets to host the NCAA first round. If we pull that off it puts us in the driver’s seat.”
Sunday at Emporia
Women’s Results
Emporia State 7, Truman 2
Singles
1. Jennifer Salman (TSU) def. Marcella Bayon (ESU) 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9).
2. Natalie Villaflor (ESU) def. Lindsy Blair (TSU) 6-1, 6-7 (8), 1-0 (7).
3. Courtney Walther (TSU) def. Lacey Luina (ESU) 6-3, 6-4.
4. Karly Schultz (ESU) def. Hannah Wittmer (TSU) 6-2, 6-0.
5. Audrey Sherman (ESU) def. Jessie Krause (TSU) 6-2, 6-2.
6. Molly Bowman (ESU) def. Duyen Van (TSU) 6-0, 7-5.
Doubles
1. Villaflor/Luina (ESU) def. Blair/Walther (TSU) 8-1.
2. Bayon/Schultz (ESU) def. Salman/Wittmer (TSU) 8-3.
3. Sherman/Bowman (ESU) def. Krause/Taylor Warden (TSU) 8-0.
Men’s Results
Truman 7, Emporia State 2
Singles
1. Ryan Cope (TSU) def. Julian Rios (ESU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
2. Nathan Mai (ESU) def. Peter Brucha (TSU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
3. Stephen Hipkiss (TSU) def. Kevin Schoon (ESU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7).
4. Cody Pusateri (TSU) def. Ross Hougland (ESU) 7-5, 6-2.
5. Kyle Schlotz (TSU) def. Kevin Arnhold (ESU) 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3.
6. John Rothfusz (TSU) def. Tim Garner (ESU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Rios/Mai (ESU) def. Cope/Bracha (TSU) 8-3.
2. Schlotz/Rothfusz (TSU) def. Schoon/Arnhold (ESU) 8-6.
3. Hipkiss/Pusateri (TSU) def. Arnhold/Garner (ESU) 8-2.