WESTLAKE, Ohio – Lauren Golick and Princess Gbadamosi each picked up a singles win Saturday evening, but that would be all the Cleveland State women's tennis team could manage, as the Vikings fell to Toledo, 5-2.
"It was great to see Lauren back in the lineup today, and although she was a little rusty it was good to see her get a win and play some solid tennis. Princess was also able to get back in the win column for us, picking up a huge victory in the bottom half of the lineup," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We struggled again in our doubles play, and as long as keep working hard on doubles in practice, I think improved doubles play could be the key to picking up wins in the future for us."
Cleveland State's two points against the Rockets came at No. 2 singles and No. 6 singles. Playing in her first match of the spring season following an injury, Golick posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the No. 2 spot. Gbadamosi's win came at the No. 6 position, as she earned a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 come-from-behind three-set victory.
Although they didn't come out in Cleveland State's favor, two other singles matches went to three sets Saturday, as Kara Sherwood and Mathilde Orange both lost three-set matches. Sherwood fell, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) at No. 1 singles, while Orange dropped a 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 match at No. 5 singles.
"I thought we had opportunities to win some other matches tonight, but we just weren't able to pull them out. Kara played some great tennis at the top of the lineup for us, battling in a three-hour thriller. We will get back to work this week, and prepare for the upcoming matches, and as long as we continue to stay focused throughout practice and competitions I feel good about the future of this team," Etzkin said.
The Vikings will hit the road next weekend, traveling to Saint Louis (Friday, Feb. 28) and Southern Illinois (Saturday, March 1).
Toledo 5, Cleveland State 2
Doubles:
- Pitt/Mazzola (UT) def. Power/Gbadamosi (CSU), 8-4
- Nguyen/Rygh (UT) def. Sherwood/Bush (CSU), 8-1
- Thai/Bowman (UT) def. Orange/Bensimon (CSU), 8-4
Singles:
- Chrissy Coffman (UT) def. Kara Sherwood (CSU), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5)
- Lauren Golick (CSU) def. Katelyn Nguyen (UT), 6-3, 6-3
- Pia Rygh (UT) def. Alex Bush (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
- Lexy Pitt (UT) def. Alex Power (CSU), 6-3, 6-2
- Mackenzie Bowman (UT) def. Mathilde Orange (CSU), 6-4, 0-6, 6-3
- Princess Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Kayleigh Hall (UT), 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
