It took one long day and two different cities, but the Emporia State women’s tennis team is now exactly where it wants to be: one team victory away from advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The Lady Hornets took care of business Thursday night, defeating Mesa State 5-1 to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
ESU played its doubles matches at Milton Courts on the ESU campus before rain forced the team to complete singles at Crestview Country Club in Wichita.
“I think, all in all,” ESU coach John Cayton said, “we’re pleased with the result.”
ESU will face Nebraska-Omaha at 3 p.m. today for the right to advance to the Sweet 16 in Altamonte Springs, Fla., next week. UNO defeated Minnesota-Duluth, 5-0, in the first round Thursday.
Despite a shaky start, the Lady Hornets advanced to the NCAA second round for the third consecutive year.
The key victory for ESU came in No. 1 doubles, as Natalie Villaflor and Lacey Luina jumped out to a 5-2 lead before falling behind, 7-6.
“They were a little nervous in the first round with jitters,” Cayton said.
The pair rallied from there, winning three consecutive games to post a 9-7 victory.
The win gave ESU a 3-0 advantage before heading to Wichita to complete singles play.
Luina (No. 3 singles) and Karly Schultz (No. 4 singles) posted the other two victories to clinch the team victory.
Villaflor had the only ESU setback, losing by injury default at No. 2 singles. Cayton said the move was precautionary and that Villaflor should be fine to compete in today’s matches despite her persistent leg injury.
“We didn’t want to push her,” Cayton said. “We wanted to save it for (today).”
Today’s dual will be a rematch of one held on March 3, when ESU lost to UNO, 5-4, in Omaha.
“After that loss, we wanted to play them again right away. That’s just how it was,” Cayton said. “We feel like we’re a better team now, a different team. We’ve played and prepared and gone through the season now. This is where we feel like we peak.”
In Topeka, ESU’s men saw their season come to a close, losing 5-1 in the NCAA Tournament against top-seeded Washburn.
It was the Hornets’ first-ever trip to the NCAA postseason.
ESU’s No. 1 doubles team of Julian Rios and Nathan Mai picked up the only victory, surprising nationally ranked Rutger Vliegenberg and Andrew Plum with a 9-8 victory.
“I was glad to see that,” Cayton said. “Nathan and Julian are playing better and better every time they go out in doubles. That’s huge for their confidence. It’s a good, positive momentum-builder for next year — to be able to know we have a solid No. 1 doubles team.”
ESU finished the season with a 10-7 record.
Thursday at Emporia/Wichita
ESU women 5, Mesa State 1
Doubles
No. 1 — Natalie Villaflor/Lacey Luina (ESU) def. Teri Mayeda/Kelsey Bottinelli (MSU), 9-7.
No. 2 — Marcela Bayon/Karly Schultz (ESU) def. Krystal Smith/Jamie Hanks (MSU), 8-2.
No. 3 — Audrey Sherman/Molly Bowman (ESU) def. Kara Killenberg/Drisa Carrizo (MSU), 8-3.
Singles
No. 2 — Bottinelli (MSU) def. Villaflor (ESU), injury default.
No. 3 — Luina (ESU) def. Killenberg (MSU), 6-0, 6-1.
No. 4 — Schultz (ESU) def. Smith (MSU), 6-1, 6-2.
Thursday at Topeka
Washburn men 5, ESU 1
Doubles
No. 1 — Julian Rios/Nathan Mai (ESU) def. Rutger Vliegenberg/Andrew Plum (WU), 9-8.
No. 2 — Nathan Martin/Brad Johnston (WU) def. Kevin Schoon/Ross Hougland (ESU), 8-3.
No. 3 — Drew Hanson/Ryan Ward (WU) def. Kevin Arnhold/Branden Ewertz (ESU), 8-5.
Singles
No. 1 — Vliegenberg (WU) def. Rios (ESU), 6-1, 6-3.
No. 3 — Martin (WU) def. Schoon (ESU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
No. 6 — Plum (WU) def. Ewertz (ESU), 6-0, 6-1.