SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's tennis was dominant in its defeat of Northern Iowa at home on Saturday.
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The Bears (10-5, 1-0 MVC) only dropped a point due to a medical withdrawal at No. 1 singles. MoState remains undefeated at home (6-0) and undefeated when it secures the doubles point (8-0). The Bears have the longest win streak in the Missouri Valley Conference with three straight wins.
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No. 2 and No. 3 doubles helped the Bears to an early lead. The duo of
Mary Houston and
Sandra Lukacova defeated UNI's Andrijana Brkic and Kim Zizek by 6-1 at No. 2.
Tuana Gunal and
Juliette Robinson also won by 6-1 at No. 3 against Lasya Mylavarapu and Issa Sullivan.
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Gunal got the ball rolling in singles with a sweep at No. 3 against Lorena Cardoso of UNI. The native of Gebze, Turkey won 6-0, 6-0 for the first time in her career as a Bear. Gunal has the second-longest win streak of any Bear with three straight wins at No. 3.
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Nicole Ross owns the longest win streak on the team with nine wins in a row. Ross flew through her first set against Kanyanut Sudsaard to win 6-1. She took the second set by the same score to secure the Bears' win at No. 5.
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Lukacova won the first match with only two dropped games in the first set against UNI's Sullivan. After closing the first set 6-2, the junior raced to win her second 6-0 in the No. 6 spot.
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Robinson's win at No. 4 put the Bears in position to clinch their tenth victory of the season. The native of Carey Gulley, Australia won the first set 6-1 then took the second 6-2.
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Houston battled in the No. 2 spot to earn her win over Dalecka. In both sets, the lead would bounce back-and-forth before Houston ran away with a win. The senior ultimately won both sets 6-3.
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The Bears head back out on the road next week to face Murray State on Friday at 11:00 a.m. and Belmont on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
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Results
Missouri State (10-5, 1-0 MVC) – 6, Northern Iowa (3-9, 0-1 MVC) – 1
Doubles
1.
Cristina Flaquer/
Nicole Ross (MOST) vs. Lorena Cardoso/Darta Dalecka (UNI) – 3-3 unfinished
2.
Mary Houston/
Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Andrijana Brkic/Kim Zizek (UNI) – 6-1
3.
Tuana Gunal/
Juliette Robinson (MOST) defeated Lasya Mylavarapu/Issa Sullivan (UNI) – 6-1
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Order of Finish: 2, 3
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Singles
1.
Cristina Flaquer (MOST) lost to Andrijana Brkic (UNI) – 6-4, medical withdrawal
2.
Mary Houston (MOST) defeated Darta Dalecka (UNI) – 6-3, 6-3
3.
Tuana Gunal (MOST) defeated Lorena Cardoso (UNI) – 6-0, 6-0
4. Julitte Robinson (MOST) defeated Kim Zizek (UNI) – 6-1, 6-2
5.
Nicole Ross (MOST) defeated Kanyanut Sudsaard (UNI) – 6-1, 6-1
6.
Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Issa Sullivan (UNI) – 6-2, 6-0
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Order of Finish: 3, 4, 5, 2, 6, 1
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