Missouri
Western Illinois
Mizzou Tennis Sweeps Western Illinois to Open Season
1/25/2020 8:21:00 PM | Tennis
Mizzou makes clean sweep of Leatherneckcs, winning 4-0 and 4-0
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou Tennis opened the 2020 spring season with a clean doubleheader sweep of Western Illinois, winning 4-0 and 4-0 on Saturday at the Mizzou Tennis Complex. Mizzou won all 12 matches that were finished on Saturday, and did not drop a single set of a match that was finished.
MATCH 1
Mizzou opened the day with matching 6-2 wins in doubles play to earn the doubles point. The senior duo of Serena Nash (Bradford, England) and Gabrielle Goldin (Brandenton, Fla.) defeated Lucky Kancherla and Mara Vidal, while sophomore Vivien Ábrahám (Budapest, Hungary) and freshman Elys Ventura (Aukland, New Zealand) beat Laura Ballesteros and Nikhita Simhambhatla.
In singles play, Mizzou earned wins at the top three positions, as Nash, Ábrahám and Ventura all won in straight sets. Playing in the No. 1 position, Nash defeated Laura Ballesteros, 6-2, 6-0, while Ábrahám beat Nikhita Simhambhatla at the second position, 6-1, 6-0.
Making her Mizzou dual debut, Ventura made quick work of Lucky Kancherla in the third position, winning 6-0, 6-0.
MATCH 2
In the second match of the day, Mizzou swept the doubles point following wins from Nash and Goldin over Laura Ballesteros and Mara Vidal (6-4) and from Ábrahám and Ventura over Grace Stevens and Lucky Kancherla (6-0).
In singles play, Mizzou earned three wins from Ábrahám, Ventura and Goldin. At the No. 2 spot, Ábrahám beat Nikhita Simhambhatla, 6-1, 6-2, while Ventura beat Mara Vidal, 6-0, 6-0 and Goldin beat Lucky Kancherla, 6-2, 6-3. The straight sets 6-0, 6-0 win for Ventura was her second of the day.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou head coach Colt Gaston
"I thought we did a great job of coming out with a lot of energy today and playing aggressive. I saw a lot of improvement in some areas our team has been working on, so I'm excited to get back to work next week and continuing to build on that. A huge thank you to the fans for coming out today, it means a lot to this team and I."
UP NEXT
Next, Mizzou will host a pair of in-state foes for a doubleheader on Friday, Jan. 31, as the Tigers host Missouri State at 1 p.m. CT, followed by a match with Saint Louis at 5 p.m. CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Tennis, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
MATCH 1 - MIZZOU 4, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
Doubles Results
1 – Serena Nash & Gabrielle Goldin (MIZ) def. Lucky Kancherla & Mara Vidal (WIU): 6-2
2 – Vivien Ábrahám & Elys Ventura (MIZ) def. Laura Ballesteros & Nikhita Simhambhatla (WIU): 6-2
3 – No match
Singles Results
1 – Serena Nash (MIZ) def. Laura Ballesteros (WIU): 6-2, 6-0
2 – Vivien Ábrahám (MIZ) def. Nikhita Simhambhatla (WIU): 6-1, 6-0
3 – Elys Ventura (MIZ) def. Lucky Kancherla (WIU): 6-0, 6-0
4 – Gabrielle Goldin (MIZ) vs. Mara Vidal (WIU): 6-2, 3-2, unfinished
5 – Marta Oliveira (MIZ) vs. Grace Stevens (WIU): 1-0, unfinished
6 – No match
MATCH 2 - MIZZOU 4, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
DOUBLES
1 – Serena Nash & Gabrielle Goldin (MIZ) def. Laura Ballesteros & Mara Vidal (WIU): 6-4
2 – Vivien Ábrahám & Elys Ventura (MIZ) def. Grace Stevens & Lucky Kancherla (WIU): 6-0
3 – No match
SINGLES
1 – Serena Nash (MIZ) vs. Laura Ballesteros (WIU):6-4, 1-6, unfinished
2 – Vivien Ábrahám (MIZ) def. Nikhita Simhambhatla (WIU): 6-1, 6-2
3 – Elys Ventura (MIZ) def. Mara Vidal (WIU): 6-0, 6-0
4 – Gabrielle Goldin (MIZ) def. Lucky Kancherla (WIU): 6-2, 6-3
5 – Marta Oliveira (MIZ) vs. Grace Stevens (WIU): 6-0, 4-0, unfinished
6 – No match
