DePaul University
Marquette
Kuzmenkova Comes Through in the Clutch
4/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
BIG EAST Bracket
CAYCE, S.C. -- Saturday's BIG EAST women's tennis semifinal came down to perhaps the biggest clutch performance of Alina Kuzmenkova's young career.
The freshman's 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback victory over Marquette's Andrea Amortegui sealed DePaul's 4-2 triumph and propelled the women's tennis program onto its fourth BIG EAST title match in the last five years.
The No. 2-seeded Blue Demons (10-10) will face No. 1 St. John's (16-5) at 9 a.m. (ET) Sunday for the Big EAST crown and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The long-time rivalry between DePaul and Marquette often results in a close encounter in just about every sport, and the latest renewal of this tradition was more of the same.
Coach Mark Ardizzone's team dropped two of three doubles matches to fall behind 1-0 at the Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center.
But this team is no stranger to adversity and quickly turned the tide behind singles victories from Patricia Lancranjan and No. 2, Aspasia Avgeri at No. 3 and Marija Jovicic at No. 4
A loss at No. 1 singles cut DePaul's lead to 3-2 heading into Kuzmenkova's defining match. Her success ended the Golden Eagles' season with a 12-10 record.
Defending BIG EAST champion DePaul is one win away from a repeat title and its fourth BIG EAST crown in the last five years.
The Blue Demons are also shooting for their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance over the same span.
DePaul 4, Marquette 2
Singles
1. Paula Tormos Sanchez (MU) def. Keisha Clousing (DPU) vs. 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. Patricia Lancranjan (DPU) def. Natalija Popovic (MU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Aspasia Avgeri (DPU) def. Fleur Eggink (MU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Marija Jovicic (DPU) def. Milica Novakovic (MU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Andrea Amortegui (MU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Milica Tesic (DPU) vs. Lesley Foe (MU) 6-4, 4-6, 3-4 (DNF)
Doubles
1. Eggink/Popovic (MU) def. Clousing/Lancranjan (DPU) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Tormos/Amortegui (MU) def. Jovicic/Kuzmenkova (DPU) 6-1
3. Tesic/Avgeri (DPU) def. Foe/Novakovic (MU) 6-3
Players Mentioned
