Tennis still winless after defeat at SLU

Southeast (0-3) tennis fell to Saint Louis University Billikens (1-3) Friday by a score of 4-3 at the St. Clair Tennis Club in O'Fallon, Illinois.

Leading the way for the Redhawks playing in the No. 1 position was freshman Romana Tarajova from Dolný Kubín, Slovakia got the Redhawks going early winning her match over Cassie McKenzie in singles-play.

Freshman Teona Velkoska (1-2) from Prilep, Macedonia, captured the Redhawks’ only other singles point as she defeated Mika Mizgav 6-1, 6-2.

The Redhawks earned its first points of the season in doubles play on Friday as Tarajova (1-2) and freshman Manuela Barriga (1-1) won their match by a score of 6-2. This was also the first doubles points of both Tarajova and Barriga’s careers.

Velkoska (2-1) and junior Isabella Kruppa (2-1) then lost 6-7 to bring the doubles play tally to 1-1.

Zonova and freshman Sneha Sinha won their first doubles point of the season (1-2) by defeating Cassie and Ally McKenzie 7-6 to give the Redhawks the point for doubles.

Junior Kseniya Zonova playing out of the No. 2 position fell in her third straight singles match 6-4, 4-6, 4-6 to Ally McKenzie, bringing her record to 0-3 in singles play.

Sinha (0-2) and Barriga (0-2) were both defeated in the fifth and sixth positions, respectively, in straight sets.

In the final and decisive match of the day, Kruppa (0-2) came out and won the first set over Mariluz Rojo before losing the next two sets 2-6 and 1-6, giving the win to the Billikens.

On the day the theme that presented itself was freshman Redhawks carrying the load for SEMO. Coach Mary Beth Gunn did not feature her other senior on the roster Anais Emelie, who has yet to win a match for the Redhawks in the winter season.

The Redhawks are back in action Friday, Feb. 15, when they visit in state opponent Missouri State University, and Feb. 16 against University of Nebraska-Omaha. Both matches will be played in Springfield, Missouri.

This will be the first time the Redhawks will return to Springfield, Missouri, after their fall invitational season ended in October.