(SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 21)—The McKendree University women's tennis team defeated the University of Illinois at Springfield, 5-2, Saturday and now will move on to play at the NAIA Region V tournament April 26 and 27th at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Mo.
McKendree's No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Maria Occhipinti (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) and junior Jenny Mennerick (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) defeated Kathleen Brancato and Thiyumi Abeysinghe, 8-2, to begin the day and the No. 3 doubles team of junior Lauren Szakielo (Troy, IL/Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) and senior Kelly Beiermann (Godfrey, Ill./Marquette) secured the Bearcats second win at doubles over Priyanka Deo and Liz Dugan, 8-5.
In singles action, only four matches were finished due to inclement weather and McKendree won three of the four to win the match. Mennerick defeated Abeysinghe, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, at No. 2 singles, followed by wins at No. 3 and No. 6 singles by senior Sara Johnson (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) and Szakielo, respectively, to win 5-2.
McKendree University Women's Tennis Result
Saturday, April 19
MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY 5, Univ. of Illinois-Springfield 2
Doubles
1. Occhipinti and Mennerick DEF Brancato and Abeysinghe McK 8-2
2. McGowan and Ramilo DEF Johnson and Thoman UIS 9-7
3. Beiermann and Szakielo DEF Deo and Dugan McK 8-5
Singles
1. Brancato DEF Occhipinti UIS 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Mennerick DEF Abeysinghe McK 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
3. Johnson DEF McGowan McK 6-2, 6-0
4. Thoman vs. Deo UNFINSHED
5. Beiermann vs. Ramilo UNFINSHED
6. Szakielo DEF Gebben McK 6-0, 6-1
-McK-
