By: Joseph Hovey
ROME, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's tennis tallied 24 wins across singles and doubles play in a strong finish to its fall season at the UTR Sports NCAA Division I Invitational at the Rome Tennis Center, Oct. 29-Nov. 1.
"This was a really good tournament to end the fall," said KSU director of tennis
Matt Emery. "Going undefeated in doubles was really positive and we had some strong singles performances as well against good competition. We are really excited about this team heading into the spring."
Ema Baraniakova continued her recent surge of success with a 5-0 showing in singles action on her way to winning the "A" bracket singles title.
Baraniakova began the tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Franziska Heinemann of Georgia Southern, then battled back in three sets to overcome South Florida's Zoe Lazar 2-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-7).
After defeating North Alabama's Emma Ansorge 6-0, 6-3, and Rufaro Magarira of Chattanooga 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-7), Baraniakova captured her bracket's top spot with a thrilling 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) win over the Mocs' Liam Oved.
"Ema was an absolute warrior all weekend," Emery said.
With five wins in Rome, Baraniakova finishes the fall with a 16-1 singles record.
Irene Serrano Maestre picked up three wins to move to 12-5 in fall singles. Each of the sophomore's victories came in straight sets: 6-3, 6-3 over Chattanooga's Zara Burns, and 6-2, 6-1 over Bellarmine's Sloan Proffitt and Miami (OH)'s Maria Komar.
Terezia Baraniakova reached double-digit fall singles wins (10-6) with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Bellarmine's Lilly Muraske, a 6-3, 6-1 topping of Jax State's Anna Medvyedyeva and a 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-2) win over Lovisa Valentinsson of Miami (OH).
Adela Zingorova capped her freshman fall with the Owls at eight singles wins after defeats of West Virginia's Rio Maeda (6-0, 6-1) as well as the Knights' Alice Brook (6-2, 6-4) and the RedHawks Maria Oliveira (6-3, 6-3).
Maria Ivankovic,
Laura Nadaska,
Jenelle Roberts and
Lucie Nouzova rounded up the remainder of KSU's weekend wins.
Nadaska recorded her victories over the Mocs' Joelle Krikorian (6-1, 6-2) and the Lions' Rio Wakayama (3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)). Ivankovic topped the Bulls' Francesca Miglio (6-1, 6-4), while Roberts defeated the Eagles' Reese Parker (6-2, 6-2) and Nouzova the Knights' Katarzyna Kliber (6-2, 6-4).
The Owls' undefeated doubles weekend included two tandems that finished the fall with double-digit wins.
Ema Baraniakova and Zingorova advanced to 10-3 in a 6-4 win over the Mocs' Magarira and Oved. Ivankovic and Nadaska notched a team-high 11
th doubles win of the fall in a 6-2 decision over the
Eagles' Amelie Rosadoro and Mar Hernandez.
Terezia Baraniakova and Nouzova overcame the Lions' Booker and Anastasiia Kostiushkina 6-1, while Roberts and Serrano Maestre rolled to a 6-0 defeat of the Eagles' Parker and Mackenzie Leopold.
KSU will return to action with the start of the spring season in late January. The full match schedule will be announced at a later date.
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