Women’s tennis powers ahead vs. Southeast Missouri

Senior Keti Mebuke won her singles and doubles matches in the tennis team’s 6-1 win Sunday. — Photo: Steve Woltmann

The women’s tennis team (2-4) came together Sunday for a 6-1 victory against Southeast Missouri (0-8) at XS Tennis. Up next for the Flames is a match at Michigan State at 2 p.m. March 6.

In Sunday’s match, the Flames clinched the doubles point and won five singles matches in straight sets.

In doubles, senior Keti Mebuke and sophomore Oana Manole posted a 6-1 victory at No. 1 against Mariya Kostyuk and Viviana Ortiz. Freshmen Bianca Zuzu and Melika LeBlanc produced a 6-1 result at No. 2 against Kateryna Stoianova and Anna Makhneva to secure the first point. Juniors Jackie Altansarnai and Ann-Sophie Hahn led their match, 5-2, at No. 3 against Melissa Martin and Annisa Waransanti before it went unfinished.

UIC ousted Southeast Missouri in singles with wins at No. 1 through No. 5. Mebuke tabbed a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 1 against Stoianova. Altansarnai bested Kostyuk, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 2.

Manole picked up her first win of the season at No. 3 with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Ortiz. Hahn allowed just one point in her match at No. 4 against Montenegro, 6-0, 6-1, and Zuzu rounded out the group with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Waransanti at No. 5.

The lone loss for the Flames came at No. 6, where LeBlanc dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Martin.