HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's tennis secured its first postseason berth since moving to the Horizon League, and just the second time since moving to Division I, with a 4-3 win over Detroit Mercy on Saturday afternoon, guaranteeing a spot in the Horizon League Championship. The Norse move to 7-9 overall and 4-4 in Horizon League play, while the Titans dropped to 7-15 (2-5 HL).
Match Notables
- The Titans started at a disadvantage with one player down, and the Norse earned walkovers in No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.
- After taking the doubles point, UDM took a 3-1 lead with wins in No. 2 and 3 singles.
- Margita Sunjic was the first player to win for the Norse with a straight-set victory on the top court. She downed Iris Thious, 7-5, 6-3.
- The remaining two matches proved to be battles, with NKU winning in three sets on the No. 4 and 5 courts.
- In the No. 4 match, Taylor Culbertson took a 7-5 win over Ksenia Providokhina before her opponent pushed a third set with a 6-3 second set. Culbertson had a quick victory in the third, 6-2.
- The deciding point fell to Hannah Watton, who won the first set against Chelsea Apawti in tiebreak, 7-6, before dropping the second set. Watton found herself down 5-2 in the third, but rattled off the next two games to trail 5-4. She then faced four match points, but held Apawti off and won the remaining two games to clinch the win for the Norse.
NKU wraps up the regular season tomorrow at 11 a.m. against Oakland.
Agate
Northern Kentucky 4, Detroit Mercy 3
Singles (Order of Finish: 6,2,3,1,4,5*)
1.
Margita Sunjic (NKU) def. Iris Thioux (UDM) 7-5, 6-3
2. Jasmine Apawti (UDM) def.
Maria Koo (NKU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Pauline Van Herck (UDM) def.
Sydney Power (NKU) 7-6, 6-1
4.
Taylor Culbertson (NKU) def. Ksenia Providokhina (UDM) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
5.
Hannah Watton (NKU) def. Chelsea Apawti (UDM) 7-6, 3-6, 7-5
6.
Alyssa DeFiglio (NKU) won by walkover
Doubles (Order of Finish: 3,2,1*)
1. Chelsea Apawti/Jasmine Apawti (UDM) def.
Maria Koo/
Margita Sunjic (NKU) 6-4
2. Iris Thioux/Pauline Van Herck (UDM) def.
Taylor Culbertson/
Sydney Power (NKU) 6-2
3.
Alyssa DeFiglio/
Hannah Watton (NKU) won by walkover
#TakeNotice
