A Rousing Sendoff for Aspasia Avgeri

Thursday, April 8

Chicago, Ill.

12:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

Butler

4/8/2021 3:19:00 PM | WOMEN'S TENNIS

Box Score (PDF)

Scores the winning point in 5-2 win over Butler on Senior Day

CHICAGO – The Blue Demons wanted to make sure their final home match of the season was a rousing success---especially on Senior Day.

On a Thursday afternoon when coach Marisa Arce and her tennis players recognized the invaluable contributions of graduate student Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul defeated BIG EAST opponent Butler 5-2 at the XS Tennis Village on the South Side.

Avgeri teamed with Maddie Yergler to win their No. 3 doubles match 6-2 over Lauren Padgett and Veronika Bruetting. That gave this dynamic duo seven wins in a row. No. 1 Lenka Antonijevic and Alina Kuzmenkova secured the doubles point after taking down Natalie Boesing and Lauren Marx 6-2.

Kuzmenkova got the singles action off to great start after easing past Padgett 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2. Maddie Yergler put the Blue Demons ahead 3-0 after defeating Marx at No. 6 singles 6-4, 6-1.

As if scripted in Hollywood, the match clincher belonged to Avgeri on her day as she won 6-4, 6-1 against Butler's No. 1 singles player Boesing. That extended her winning streak to seven in a row. Marija Jovicic added on late with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Hallie Leblebijian at No. 5 singles as DePaul improved to 8-3 on the season.

Avgeri has been a steady force with the women's tennis program since arriving from Athens, Greece in 2016. Granted an extra year of eligibility after 2019-20 was cut short by COVID-19, Aspasia ascended into the full-time No. 1 singles position this season.

She played eight of 13 singles matches last year at No. 1. Avgeri was All-BIG EAST First Team in 2019 and All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2018. Her leadership qualities have been an integral part of the team chemistry these last two seasons as she has emerged as a leading voice for the women's tennis program.

This will be a season Avgeri never forgets. Because of the random effects of coronavirus on college athletics programs leading to highly unusual quirks in schedules nationwide, Thursday was only the second home match for DePaul this season.

And the Blue Demons finish up the regular season with three-straight road matches.

Coach Marisa Arce and her team left for Cincinnati right after the match where they will collide with BIG EAST title contender Xavier (11-3) on Friday with first serve at 12 noon.

DePaul 5, Butler 2
April 8, 2021
XS Tennis
Singles
1. Aspasia Avgeri (DPU) def. Natalie Boesing (BU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Lauren Padgett (BU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Delaney Schurhamer (BU) def. Lenka Antonijevic (DPU) 5-2, 0-6, 10-6
4. Sara Linn (BU) def. Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DPU) 6-3, 6-0
5. Marija Jovicic (DPU) def. Hallie Leblebijian (BU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Maddie Yergler (DPU) def. Lauren Marx (BU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
1. Lenka Antonijevic/Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Natalie Boesing/Lauren Marx (BU) 6-2
2. Marija Jovicic/Kaya Rand (DPU) vs. Sara Linn/Delaney Schurhamer (BU) 5-5 (8-6), unfinished
3. Maddie Yergler/Aspasia Avgeri (DPU) def. Lauren Padgett/Veronika Bruetting (BU) 6-1