Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Farmers Athletic Complex)
Score: Davenport 9, Cornerstone 0
Records: DU (1-0), CU (0-3)
Next DU event: Thursday, September 12 – USTA/ITA East Regional
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport Women's Tennis team made it to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history last season and after returning five of their top six players while welcoming in a fantastic recruiting class, the team got off to a blazing start by defeating Cornerstone 9-0 on Tuesday night. The match was the season opener for the Panthers as they now prepare to host the USTA/ITA East Regional tournament Thursday through Saturday.
Getting some nerves calmed down and rust off the rackets was a main priority today for the women's tennis team as they tuned up for the upcoming USTA/ITA East Regional this weekend with a 9-0 sweep of cross-town foe Cornerstone at the Farmers Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.
Davenport got off to a 3-0 start in doubles as the No. 1 duo of Emily Spiech and Alyssa Fuentes matched the No. 3 team of Angelica Woods and Lauren Gager with identical 8-1 wins. Kristi Kuzdal partnered with transfer Montserrat Elizondo to win 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.
Singles play saw much of the same results for the Panthers with Spiech winning at No. 1 (6-1, 6-1), Kuzdal at No. 3 (6-3, 6-3), Woods at No. 4 (6-1, 6-0), Elizondo at No. 5 (7-5, 6-3) and Gager at No. 6 (6-1, 6-1). The only newcomer to singles play was freshman Puck Luttikhuis who opened her collegiate career with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 2.
The team will now have one day off as they prepare for the USTA/ITA East Regional Tournament that will be played here in Grand Rapids Thursday through Saturday. The women will play the majority of their Thursday-Friday matches at Orchard Hills with the final day of play happening at Davenport.
Post-Match Notes
Emily Spiech improves to 25-7 all-time in her one plus seasons here at Davenport after going 24-7 as a freshman…The appearances for Elizondo, Gager and Luttikhuis were their first in a Davenport uniform…
Tennis Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-554-5045 | asagraves@davenport.edu
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