Holy Names edges DSU women's tennis

Kukaras, Dvorak earn points in 6-3 loss on the road

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Dixie State women's tennis came up just short on Wednesday afternoon, suffering a 6-3 loss to host Holy Names in a PacWest match at the Merritt College Tennis Courts. DSU sees its record fall to 2-4 in the spring season while HNU improves to 8-4.

"The team played some great points, but they came up just a couple points short," head coach Eric Pelton said.

Karolin Kukaras (Heidelberg, Germany) and Laura Hartle (Salt Lake City, UT/East), the No. 9 regionally ranked doubles team, grabbed the first point of the match in No. 1 doubles, 8-3. Holy Names took a 2-1 lead in the match after taking an 8-5 win in No. 2 doubles and a close 9-7 result at No. 3.

Kukaras easily dispatched Mariel Bautista in straight sets – 6-1, 6-1 – at No. 1 singles to even the match at 2-2. The Hawks won the next two matches to build a 4-3 lead, but Stormy Dvorak was able to prevail at No. 2 over Jessica Ho, 7-5, 6-3.

Hartle won the first set 6-0 over Chelsea Smithback playing at No. 3, but a 7-6 win in set two to send the match into a tiebreak. Smithback sealed the point, and ultimately the match, with a 10-8 decision.

With the match already decided, HNU added a final singles point at No. 6.

Dixie State has less than 24 hours to regroup before visiting Sonoma State on Thursday.

Holy Names 6, Dixie St. 3
Mar 25, 2015 at Oakland, Calif. (Merritt College Tennis Courts)

Singles competition

1. Kukaras, Karolin (DX-WTN) def. Mariel Bautista (HNU-WT) 6-1, 6-1

2. Dvorak, Stormy (DX-WTN) def. Jessica Ho (HNU-WT) 7-5, 6-3

3. Chelsea Smithback (HNU-WT) def. Hartle, Laura (DX-WTN) 6-7, 6-0, 1-0 (10-8)

4. Leticia Vieira (HNU-WT) def. Draca, Zenja (DX-WTN) 6-4, 6-2

5. Amaru Hernandez (HNU-WT) def. Smith, Sierra (DX-WTN) 6-2, 6-2

6. Taylor Barajas (HNU-WT) def. Anderson, Ashley (DX-WTN) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Kukaras, Karolin/Hartle, Laura (DX-WTN) def. Jessica Ho/Leticia Vieira (HNU-WT) 8-3

2. Chelsea Smithback/Lexi Bevins (HNU-WT) def. Dvorak, Stormy/Draca, Zenja (DX-WTN) 8-5

3. Mariel Bautista/Amaru Hernandez (HNU-WT) def. Smith, Sierra/Anderson, Ashley (DX-WTN) 9-7

Match Notes

Dixie St. 2-4; Regional ranking #10

Holy Names 8-4; Regional ranking #9

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,4,2,3,6)

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Players Mentioned

Stormy Dvorak: Senior

Laura Hartle: Sophomore

Karolin Kukaras: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Stormy Dvorak
: Senior

Laura Hartle
: Sophomore

Karolin Kukaras
: Freshman