By Beth Renkoski

05/12/09

Lions Roar Into Second Round

Mobile, Ala. – Copeland-Cox Tennis Center - Vanguard University was one of eight women’s tennis teams to cruise through their opening round matches, recording one of the two shutouts produced on day one of the 2009 NAIA Women’s Tennis National Championships. The Lions handed Nebraska Wesleyan University 8-0 as the No. six singles match was not completed due to weather.

Ranked ninth in the final NAIA poll, the Lions stormed to a 3-0 lead at the conclusion of doubles play with NWU. Hana Jurcovicova and Kateryna Malakhova combined for an 8-3 victory in the top doubles match while Betyel Tesfa and Anna Valingsten collaborated for a dominating 8-2 victory at No. 2. Brittnie Fufuvald and Lynn Walker completed the sweep with an 8-5 decision in the third doubles match up, leaving the Lions just two points shy of clinching the match.

The pressure was off of the Lions quickly with Jurcovicova and Tesfa notching perfect 6-0, 6-0 shutouts in the first two singles pairings. Malakhova (6-3, 6-0), Valingsten (6-2, 6-2), and Furuvald (6-0, 6-4) secured the final score of 8-0 with straight set victories in their respective singles matches before weather halted the final singles match.

Vanguard (14-8) returns to the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center tomorrow to face No. 8 seeded Southern Nazarene (Okla.) as the top eight seeds march into action for the first time after resting through first-round byes today.