SALEM, W. Va. (April 12, 2018) – The sun and all its warmth finally broke through for the Salem University Tigers women's tennis team's first match of the season, giving light not even an 8-1 loss to Fairmont State University could cloud.
In many ways, the dawn is still breaking on this era of Tigers tennis under the guidance of Head Coach
Todd Tucker in his first season at Salem University.
Kristina Vuksanovic, a freshman from Serbia, has spent this year developing in the No. 1 spot, gaining experience against top competition while working on specific aspects of her game. Though she lost in two sets to Fairmont State's Trinite Klamadji, Vuksanovic got stronger as the match wore on, losing the first set 6-1 and then the second 6-3.
On the adjacent court,
Anna Kovalova regrouped after early match jitters to overtake Fairmont's Heloisa Adams in the second spot in three sets.
Perhaps the Tigers' most fiery competitor, Kovalova found composure while her opponent lost hers, battling back from a 2-6 loss in the first set to win 6-3 in the second, then took an 11-9 tiebreaker in the third set for Salem's lone win.
"It was great to see all the support we had from the home crowd," Tucker said. "This was my first home match at Salem and it gave me chills to see the students, faculty, and staff show up for us."
With the loss, Salem falls to 1-22. The Tigers will hit the road for a match against Johnson C.
Smith University on April 13 at 2 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Results
Doubles
Trinite Klamadji / Heloisa Adams (FS) def.
Kristina Vuksanovic /
Anna Kovalova (SU) 8-1
Isadora Matos / Bailey Edeburn (FS) def.
Waverly Federico / Jillian Romero (SU) 8-0
Hayley Hatfield / Geena Lammertin (FS) def.
Shelby Turpin / Tyrah Bell (SU) 8-0
Singles
Trinite Klamadji (FS) def.
Kristina Vuksanovic (SU) 6-1, 6-3
Anna Kovalova (SU) def. Heloisa Adams (FS) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9)
Isadora Matos (FS) def.
Waverly Federico (SU) 6-0, 6-1
Bailey Edeburn (FS) def.
Shelby Turpin (SU) 6-1, 6-2
Hayley Hatfled (FS) def. Keishla Gilmore (SU) 6-0, 6-0
Katelyn Shirkey (FS) def. Tyrah Bell (SU) 6-0, 6-1
