Creighton University
Bradley
Women's Tennis Tops Bradley in MVC Tournament Opener, 4-1
4/24/2009 2:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton University women's tennis team dropped the doubles point, but roared back with four straight set singles victories to claim a 4-1 win over Bradley in opening round action of the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon. The matches were held at Koch Family Tennis Center and played in breezy conditions on a sun-splashed day that saw temperatures hover in the mid-80's on Omaha's warmest day of the spring to date.
The match started with the always competitive doubles play. Creighton's No. 3 tandem of Lauren Mastro and Kelsey Schmidt overcame an early 4-1 deficit to defeat Bradley's Kim Braun/Erin Krubeck combination by an 8-5 score. Five minutes later Bradley evened the chase for the doubles point with an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles, as Nicole Miller and Emily Regnold defeated CU's Tess Reddin and Nicole Nakaoka by an 8-4 margin.
With those matches complete, all eyes turned to No. 2 doubles, where Bradley's Kelly Donohue and Jessica Buterbaugh were facing Bluejay sophomores Leesa Cadwallader and Sarah Cadwallader. The twin sisters broke free from an early 2-2 tie to take leads of 4-2 and 6-4, only to see Bradley fight back to tie the set at six games apiece. The Braves would eventually take the doubles point with a 9-7 win by Donohue/Buterbaugh.
Creighton picked up two straight set victories at No. 1 and No. 2 singles to claim a 2-1 lead in the match. Reddin, who became the third player in CU history to earn all-MVC honors on Thursday, set the tone with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Miller. Mastro won her second match of the afternoon with a 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Veronika Wojakowska.
The Jays would then win at the No. 3 and No. 6 singles slots to claim the victory. At No. 3 Nakaoka avenged an earlier loss to Regenold in doubles play with a 6-4, 6-1 victory. At No. 6 singles Lindsey Erickson defeated Krubeck by a 6-1, 6-4 margin.
Two other singles matches were discontinued once CU clinched the match victory. Schmidt was three points from victory, leading 6-4 and 5-1, before her match at No. 4 against Donohue was halted. Mary Pat McMullan and Buterbaugh were in a hotly-contested battle at No. 5 singles before stopping, with Buterbaugh holding a narrow 6-4, 0-6, 3-2 lead.
With the win, Creighton is now 14-9 and advances to a scheduled 3:00 p.m., quarterfinal later today against regular-season champion Wichita State. Bradley's season ends with an 8-14 mark.
Players Mentioned
