Air Force Academy
Northwestern State
Air Force splits pair of matches in Louisiana
3/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Air Force split a pair of non-conference women's tennis matches Friday afternoon at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex in Natchitoches, La. The Falcons lost to host Northwestern State, 5-1, before bouncing back to beat Grambling State, 6-0.
Northwestern State swept the doubles point before winning four of five singles matches that finished. Natalya Krutova and Polina Ivanova defeated Mary Meyers and Lily Forlini, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles while Iryna Vardanian and Polina Mutel beat Chloe Forlini and Jocelle Rudico, 6-2, at No. 2. The No. 3 doubles was not finished. In singles action, the lone Falcon win came at No. 3 by Elizabeth Barnickel defeating Mutel, 2-6, 6-2, 10-8.
Air Force won the doubles point to open the Grambling State match. Meyers and Lily Forlini won 6-1 at No. 1 while Chloe Forlini and Rudico were 6-0 winners at No. 2. The teams didn't finish the No. 3 doubles match. Air Force won all five singles matches played. Meyers was a 6-3, 7-6 (5) winner at No. 1 while Chloe Forlini won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2. Barnickel and Lily Forlini each won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively. Rudico finished it out with a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 5. The teams didn't play the No. 6 singles match.
"There was a lot fight today. Unfortunately, we dug too big a hole against Northwestern State," Air Force head coach Kim Gidley said. "We lost five of six sets and got back in the match by splitting sets at No. 5 Jocelle Rudico sparked the team winning her second set against Grambling State. Elizabeth Barnickel played well today and had a great come-from-behind win."
Air Force is 8-6 overall this season. The Falcons close the weekend by taking on Texas A&M Corpus Christi Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
Tennis Results
Air Force 6, Grambling 0
Friday, March 4, 2016
Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches, La
Singles
- Mary Meyers (AF) def. Phonephathep Philavvong (GSU), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
- Chloe Forlini (AF) def. Karen Muswere (GSU), 6-3, 7-5
- Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) def. Tafadzwa Chiridza (GSU), 6-0, 6-0
- Lily Forlini (AF) def. Joy Jones (GSU), 6-0, 6-0
- Jocelle Rudico (AF) def. Tanyaradzwa Magunie (GSU), 6-0, 6-2
- Meredith Lasky (AF) vs. Cara Kemp (GSU), DNP
Doubles
- Meyers/ L. Frolini (AF) def. Philavvong/Chiridza (GSU), 6-1
- C. Forlini/Rudico (AF) def. Muswere/Jones (GSU), 6-0
- Dodds/Barnickel (AF) DNP
Tennis Results
Northwestern State 5, Air Force 1
Friday, March 4, 2016
Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches, La.
Singles
- Natalya Krutova (NWS) def. Mary Meyers (AF), 6-0, 6-3
- Iryna Vardanian (NWS) def. Chloe Forlini (AF), 6-3, 6-3
- Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) def. Polina Mutel (NWS), 2-6, 6-2, 10-8
- Barbora Kollarova (NWS) def. Lily Forlini (AF), 4-6, 6-2, 10-5
- Polina Ivanova (NWS) def. Jocelle Rudico (AF), 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
- Alzbeta Veverkova (NWS) vs. Meredith Lasky (AF), 6-4, 4-3 DNF
Doubles
- Krutova/Ivanova (NWS) def. Meyers/ L. Forlini (AF), 6-2
- Vardanian/Mutel (NWS) def. C. Forlini/Rudico (AF), 6-2
- Llijana Ivic/Kollarova (NWS) vs. Veronica Dodds/Barnickel (AF), 3-2 DNF
Players Mentioned
