O'FALLON, Ill. - McKendree University women's tennis posted its first win of the spring season this past weekend over William Woods who is ranked No.22 in NAIA national rankings. The Bearcats went 2-1 in doubles matches and secured the win with a 4-2 performance in singles matches.

In doubles play, two McKendree pairs posted wins including junior Rhyan Cook and Maria Vitoria Salomao with a 7⁷-6² victory and fifth-year senior Manuela Barriga with junior Mariana Caicedo Mora recording a score of 6-2 for their first win of the season. The duo of senior Viola Cipriani and junior Camilla Fonseca fell 3-6 to William Woods' Hanna Lindeboom and Marta Calvo.

For the singles matches, Cipriani tabbed a three-set win with scores of 6-2, 5-7, and 7-5 while Cook grabbed a 7⁷-6, 6-2 victory. In addition to Cipriani and Cook, Salomao and Caicedo recorded dominating singles wins as Salomao recorded scores of 6-0, 6-1 and Caicedo went 6-3, 6-0 for the match. Barriga fell in the No.1 singles match 3-6, 2-6 while Fonseca dropped the No.3 singles match 4-6, 5-7.

Coach René Vidal said of the win, "This is a great victory for our women's team and the perfect way to start the 2023 season. Big things are ahead for Bearcat Women's Tennis."

McKendree also faced Kaskaskia College in an exhibition match on Friday, Feb. 17, defeating the Blue Devils 7-0.

BOX VERSUS WILLIAM WOODS

#1 Doubles

Score     Doubles Pairing

3             Viola Cipriani / Camilla Fonseca

6             H. Lindeboom / M. Calvo

#2 Doubles

Score     Doubles Pairing

7⁷         Rhyan Cook / Maria Vitoria Salomao

6²         E. Drent / L. Greefs

#3 Doubles

Score     Doubles Pairing

6             Manuela Barriga / Mariana Caicedo Mora

2             H. Meyer / K. Branzlow

#1 Singles

Score     Matchup

3     2     Manuela Barriga

6     6     H. Lindeboom

#2 Singles

Score             Matchup

6     5     7      Viola Cipriani

2     7     5      M. Calvo

#3 Singles

Score         Matchup

4     5         Camilla Fonseca

6     7         L. Greefs

#4 Singles

Score         Matchup

7⁷     6        Rhyan Cook

6      2         E. Drent

#5 Singles

Score         Matchup

6     6         Maria Vitoria Salomao

0     1         H. Meyer

#6 Singles

Score         Matchup

5     6         Mariana Caicedo Mora

3     0         K. Branzlow

UP NEXT
Coming up, the Bearcats will face Missouri Baptist on Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m. at the St. Clair Tennis Center in O'Fallon, Ill.

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