DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Marquette
Blue Demons Win Second Straight, Top Marquette on the Road
4/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
April 15, 2011
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - DePaul got singles victories in the top three spots to secure its third BIG EAST Conference victory on Friday. The Blue Demons topped Marquette 4-3 at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium on the Golden Eagles' "Senior Night".
The doubles point was a battle from the first serve with all three courts playing through long rallies and making big shots. The Blue Demons pulled out wins on the second and third courts for an early 1-0 advantage which quieted down the large Golden Eagle crowd that had gathered to see the two rivals clash.
Cali Gustafson and Christiana Raymond were the first to finish when they took a 9-7 victory from Gillian Hush and Chelsea Utting on the third court. The Blue Demon duo battled back from a 3-0 deficit to win their 10th of the season and snap a two-match skid. Gustafson and Raymond improve to 2-0 in conference play.
Kelsey Lawson and Gia McKnight improved to 3-0 on the season with a 9-7 win on the second court. The win secured the doubles point, for the Blue Demons.
Back in November, McKnight and Lawson won their first match together before waiting until April 10th to get their second. The pair's second victory came in DePaul's 6-1 win over Western Michigan on Sunday. With Lawson and McKnight gelling on the court, head coach Mark Ardizzone teamed-up the pair for the second time in five days and got the same result.
Marquette (17-8, 6-3 BIG EAST) quickly evened the score at one with a win on the sixth court but that did not stop the Blue Demons' momentum as Lawson took an impressive 6-4, 6-0 victory from Rachel Hush on the third court. The win was the freshman's third consecutive and third in conference matches.
Playing next to Lawson, McKnight mirrored her doubles partner's performance on the second court. The junior won her 66th career singles match with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Paola Calderon.
Needing one point to lock-up the Blue Demons' 12th victory of the season - senior Katarina Milinkovic answered the call from the number one position. One of DePaul's most consistent singles players, Milinkovic improved to 14-4 and 3-0 in BIG EAST play with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Olga Fischer.
DePaul (12-9, 3-0 BIG EAST) looks to remain unbeaten in BIG EAST play when it travels to Cincinnati for league dual on Sunday. Live stats are available for the match that begins at 1 p.m. (CST).
DePaul 4, Marquette 3
Doubles
No. 1 Christina Ruiz/Rachael Hush (MU) def. Katarina Milinkovic/Selma Salkovic (DPU) 8-6
No. 2 Gia McKnight/Kelsey Lawson (DPU) def. Rocio Diaz/Olga Fischer (MU) 9-7
No. 3 Cali Gustafson/Christiana Raymond (DPU) def. Gillian Hush/Chelsea Utting (MU) 9-7
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
No. 1 Milinkovic def. Fischer 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 McKnight vs. Paola Calderon 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Lawson def. R. Hush 6-4, 6-0
No. 4 G. Hush def. Raymond 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 Ruiz def. Gustasfon 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 Utting def. Samantha Kaneta 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 2, 4, 1*, 5
*Clinched the win
