The SVSU women’s tennis team finished the weekend 2-1 in GLIAC play after a three-match home stand that concluded on Sunday.
With victories over Ashland and Tiffin and a loss to Wayne State, the team’s GLIAC record improved to 6-1.
Friday, Oct. 6, marked a battle of undefeated GLIAC teams. Wayne State won the match 7-2 to improve to 5-0 in the conference, dropping the Cards to 4-1.
Senior Shea Donahue and doubles partner Taylor McLaughlin, a sophomore, secured the lone doubles victory for SVSU, winning 8-5. Freshman Maya Campbell defeated her singles competition in two sets as she won the sole singles match for the team.
Donahue and McLaughlin lost in three sets in their singles matches at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively. Sophomore Madeline Miller lost a the third set tiebreaker, 11-9.
Prior to the weekend, Miller was named GLIAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week. She finished the recent Upper Peninsula road trip with a 4-0 record in all matches played.
Donahue said Miller made improvements to her game and deserved the honor.
“Maddie deserved being named GLIAC Player of the Week, and we couldn’t be more proud of her,” Donahue said. “She has improved so much and has brought such a great personality to our team. She has done an outstanding job at getting through tough matches.”
The team bounced back on Saturday with an 8-1 victory over Ashland.
Donahue and McLaughlin lost their match for the Cards in a close 9-8 battle at the No. 1 doubles spot.
Senior Danielle Slonac and Miller won their No. 2 doubles spot 8-1. Freshmen duo Maya Campbell and Joanne Gao won 8-1 at the No. 3 spot.
The team dominated singles competition, as they did not drop a single set as a unit.
Donahue and Miller secured two-set wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. Gao and McLaughlin cleaned up the No. 3 and No.4 spots, respectively. At the No. 5 spot was Slonac, who won both sets 6-2. Rounding out at the No. 6 spot was Campbell, who won in two sets.
On Sunday, Oct. 8, the team hosted Tiffin, which finished second in the GLIAC last season. The Cards won 7-2 after dropping two of the three opening doubles matches.
Slonac and Miller earned the Cardinals’ only doubles win. The pair went on to win their singles matches, both in two-sets. Donahue won in three sets at the No. 1 singles spot. Campbell won in two sets, with the second set going to a 10-8 tiebreaker. Gao and McLaughlin both won in two sets.
Head coach Jennifer Boehm acknowledged that the team has played well, but she stressed that tough matchups lie ahead for the team.
“The reality is that we have four remaining matches against teams we have not beaten in recent years, or ever,” Boehm said. “Everything matters from here on out, and nothing will come easy.”
The team hosts Northwood for Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 14. SVSU has not beaten Northwood in over 10 years. Northwood sits atop the conference with a 6-0 record in GLIAC play. The match starts at 11 a.m.
