Women’s Tennis Claims 5-2 Win at North Dakota

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Air Force women's tennis team closed its first road trip of the spring dual season on a high note, defeating host North Dakota, 5-2.

The Falcons opened the day with their fourth-consecutive doubles victory, earned by Sydney Fitch/Alexis Odom and Courtney Swift/Andrea Le on courts one and three. Fitch/Odom defeated North Dakota's Sapir Sela/Andrea Jansson, 6-3, improving to 4-0 on the top flight for the Falcons; Le/Swift claimed a 6-4 victory over UND's Charlotte Bowles/Nyah Kauders, going 2-0 on the weekend and improving to 2-1 as a pair on court three as the Falcon pair clinched a 1-0 Air Force lead heading into singles play.

Freshman Arianna Van Houweling on court six struck first in singles, defeating UND's Angela Georgieva, 6-0, 6-3, improving to 3-1 on the year. All three of Van Houweling's victories have been earned in straight sets.

Swift was next up on line four, taking a straight-set victory over UND's Jansson after battling to a 7-5 win in her first set. Swift, making her dual singles debut over the weekend, notched her first singles victory of the season on Sunday.

After falling in her first set 6-1 on court three against Nore Heinitz, Flodin claimed 6-1 and 6-4 wins down the final two sets.

On court one, Fitch battled to a 7-5, 7-6 win over Sela, recording her second victory of the spring.

Head coach Kim Gidley on the Team Win:
"It was great to finish with a win on the road. I knew that North Dakota had strong doubles and they certainly pushed us to the limit. I was quite proud of how the team responded to a different style of play and the adjustments they were able to make on the way to a win. This puts the team at 4-0 for the doubles point, and we really are beginning to find our groove.

"It was a great experience, getting to play in front of a crowd against a talented and feisty team. North Dakota made us earn everything and I am proud of how our team fought back.

"Izzy (Flodin) lost the first set 6-1 and came back to win in three sets and clinch the team victory, while Courtney (Swift) was down 5-2 and won 7-5 and Sydney (Fitch) was down 3-0, 4-1, and 5-2 to eventually close out the match 7-6. Alexis (Odom) battled back both sets before losing 9-7 in the tiebreaker. This team has been in every match they have played this season, so it was nice to see them able to convert and get the win."

Air Force women's tennis (1-3) returns to USAFA to host Idaho on Feb. 2 at 5 p.m.

Doubles Competition:
1. Sydney Fitch/Alexis Odom (AF) def. Sapir Sela/Andrea Jansson (UND), 6-3
2. Jula Schulte/Nore Heinz (UND) vs. Abby Cotuna/Isabella Flodin (AF), 5-5 Unfinished
3. Andrea Le/Courtney Swift (AF) def. Charlotte Bowles/Nyah Kauders (UND), 6-4
Order of Finish: 1,3

Singles Competition:
1. Sydney Fitch (AF) def. Sapir Sela (UND), 7-5, 7-6
2. Nyah Kauders (UND) def. Alexis Odom (AF), 6-3, 9-7
3. Isabella Flodin (AF) def. Nore Heinitz (UND) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Courtney Swift (AF) def. Andrea Jansson (UND), 7-5, 6-2
5. Jula Schulte (UND) Andrea Le (AF), 6-3, 6-4
6. Arianna Van Houweling (AF) def. Angela Georgieva (UND), 6-0, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 2, 4, 3, 1

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