Women’s tennis shuts out Valpo

Senior Kathryn Sharples won her singles and doubles matches against Valparaiso. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The women’s tennis team (3-9, 1-0 Horizon League) blanked Valparaiso, 7-0, Thursday as the Flames began Horizon League competition.

The Flames took the doubles point and won each singles match in straight sets.

Beginning competition in doubles, seniors Kathryn Sharples and Mariana Palacios combined for the second straight match and picked up an 8-1 win at No. 1 over Kristin Zakiewicz and Kaitlyn Hamel. Senior Jana Knoppe and sophomore Ann-Sophie Hahn clinched the point with their 8-2 win over Angelina Goheen and Michele Fredlake at No. 2. The third match went unfinished after the point was decided.

UIC came out strong in singles and brought down the Crusaders at each position. Knoppe bested Meghan Barthels at No. 4 and Hahn beat Morgan Paras at No. 6 to shut out their opponents, 6-0, 6-0. Sharples took out Hamel, 6-1, 6-0, as Palacios defeated Zakiewicz, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 2. Senior Natalia Kuvakina took a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 3 against Paige Heuer and freshman Veronica Lacerda remained undefeated at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Fredlake.

The Flames prepare for back-to-back competition as they host Butler in a nonconference match Saturday, then continue Horizon League action against Wright State Sunday. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts, weather permitting.