Rain only thing to slow ESU tennis
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 09:03 a.m., March 31, 2007
Updated 09:02 a.m., March 31, 2007
The Emporia State women’s tennis team seemed to control everything except for the weather in its home-opening conference matchup against Fort Hays State on Friday.
The Lady Hornets led 4-0 before rains forced the dual to be suspended. The two teams will finish their matches on April 20, the day before the MIAA Tournament.
ESU continued its dominance in doubles, winning all three matches to take an early 3-0 lead.
“That’s going to be the formula for us because that gets the momentum going,” ESU coach John Cayton said. “I think the key will be to get two out of the three (doubles matches) or all three.”
The No. 1 doubles team of Natalie Villaflor and Lacey Luina rolled to an 8-3 victory, while the No. 2 team of Marcela Bayon and Karly Schultz also coasted in an 8-2 triumph.
Both doubles teams improved their records to 10-0 this season.
“Sometimes they start a little bit slow,” Cayton said, “but when they turn it on and get it rolling, they’re very difficult to stop.”
ESU’s No. 3 team of Audrey Sherman and Molly Bowman jumped out to a big lead before holding on in an 8-5 win.
Villaflor picked up a No. 2 singles victory after FHSU’s Helen Harris left with an injury, meaning the Lady Hornets (7-1) were just one win away from clinching the team victory.
Bayon led Mary Anne Talbott, 5-2, in No. 1 singles before the rains came.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will be back in action at 10 a.m. Sunday, playing host to Truman at the Emporia High tennis courts. The Bulldog men are 9-1, while the women enter with a 7-2 record.
ESU women’s tennis vs. FHSU
Friday at Emporia
Singles
#1 Marcela Bayon (ESU) vs. Mary Anne Talbott (FHSU), DNF.
#2 Natalie Villaflor (ESU) def. Helen Harris (FHSU), injury default.
#3 Lacey Luina (ESU) vs. Brette Baldwin (FHSU), DNF.
#4 Karly Schultz (ESU) vs. Rebekah Lynn (FHSU), DNF.
#5 Audrey Sherman (ESU) vs. Kris Marten (FHSU), DNF.
#6 Molly Bowman (ESU) vs. Mary Kate McKee (FHSU), DNF.
Doubles
#1 Villaflor/Luina (ESU) def. Talbott/Baldwin (FHSU), 8-3.
#2 Bayon/Schultz (ESU) def. Harris/Lynn (FHSU), 8-2.
#3 Sherman/Bowman (ESU) def. Marten/McKee (FHSU), 8-5.