Women's Tennis Opens The Dual Season 2-1

CHICAGO - DePaul's women's tennis team got off to a great start in the dual portion of the season this past weekend, finishing 2-1 with wins over Chicago State and Eastern Illinois on Friday and a loss at Michigan on Sunday.

The Blue Demons opened the weekend with a 7-0 sweep of Chicago State highlighted by three 6-0, 6-0 singles wins posted by Kadi Hilpus (No. 2), Rachel Dybas (No. 5) and Megan Stewart (No. 6).

Friday night saw DePaul come a sprained ankle away from another sweep but freshman Marina Parashkevova retired after building a 6-1, 4-0 lead. Hilpus and Stewart each posted 6-0, 6-1 wins for DePaul.

On Sunday, Michigan handed the Blue Demons their first loss of the season in Ann Arbor, however junior Szilvia Kelemen  posted a big win for DePaul, stopping Michigan's Kavitha Tipirneni 7-6, 7-5. Tipirneni had been ranked 14th in the region entering the weekend.

"It was fairly good start to the season.  It was nice to play against other people instead of beating up on ourselves in practice," head coach Mark Ardizzone said.  "Michigan is just too good but it was a great win for Szilvia and a great way to start for her."  

DePaul 7 Chicago St. 0

1. Stephanie Matko d. Joanne Phang 7-5,6-0

2. Kadi Hilpus d. Robbie Barnett 6-0, 6-0

3. Karen Falduto d. Roberta Sowell 6-0, 6-1

4. Natalie Matko d. Jessie Bates 6-0,6-1

5. Rachel Dybas d. Tamlyn Wright 6-0,6-0

6. Megan Stewart d. Tiffany White 6-0,6-0

Doubles

1. Kelemen/Parashkevova d. Phang/Barnett 8-0

2. Falduto/Dybas d. Sowell/Bates 8-2

3. Hilpus/S. Matko d. Wright/White 8-0

DePaul 6 Eastern Illinois 1

1. Szilvia Kelemen d. Becky Carlson 7-6,6-2

2. Becky Brunner d. Marina Parashkevova 1-6,0-4 Retired

3. Kadi Hilpus d. Amber Lenfert 6-0,6-1

4. Karen Falduto d. Sarah Freeman 6-2,6-2

5. Stephanie Matko d. Yoviat Widyadharma 6-1,6-1

6. Megan Stewart d. Kristi Martin 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

1. Kelemen/Parashkevova d. Carlson/Brunner 8-2

2. Hilpus/N. Matko d. Freeman/Lenfert 8-1

3. Falduto/Dybas d. Widyadharma/Martin 8-0

Michigan 6 DePaul 1

1. Szilvia Kelemen d. Kavitha Tipirneni 7-6,7-5

2. Leann Rutherford d. Kadi Hilpus 6-1,6-2

3. Michelle Dacosta d. Stephanie Matko 6-0,6-1

4. Jen Duprez d. Karen Falduto 6-2,6-1

5. Kim Plaushines d. Natalie Matko 6-1,6-4

6. Joanee Musgrove d. Rachel Dybas 6-1,6-0

Doubles

1. DaCosta/Rutherford d. Kelemen/S. Matko 8-3

2. Duprez/Tipirneni d. Hilpus/N. Matko 8-2

3. Plaushines/So d. Falduto/Dybas 8-3

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