DENVER – There's not much wiggle room in a three-match conference season, so the Metropolitan State University of Denver women's tennis team came to play against a solid Dixie State team on Saturday. After losing the doubles point, the Roadrunners came fighting back to finish on the winning end of a 4-3 battle at the Regency Athletic Complex.
"It was a really important result for our women today," coach
Josh Graetz said following the match. "We didn't do a very good job of executing in doubles today, but we responded in singles, which is what matters."
In doubles, No. 1 combo
Alex Pessoa (Denver, Colo./Home-schooled) and
Helena Steenberg (Skodsborg, Denmark/Naerum Gymnasium, Naerum, Denmark) dropped a 6-2 decision to Yolena Carlon and Isabel Heras of Dixie State (10-3, 2-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference). No. 3 combo
Olivia Kaiser (Aachen, Germany/Bischoefliches Gymnasium St. Ursula, Geilenkirchen) and
Eliza McKean (Buderim, Queensland, Australia/Sunshine Coast Grammar School) also dropped their match, losing to Hattie Erekson and Juliana Honczaruk by a 6-3 score.
Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) and
Mackenzie Hotan (Beaverton, OR/Southridge H.S.) got the only doubles win for MSU Denver (10-9, 2-0 RMAC) in the No. 2 slot, triumphing in a 6-3 decision. As a pair, they are now 10-3 in 2018-19 and 7-3 in dual play. Porter continued that momentum in No. 1 singles, beating Carlon 6-3, 6-1. Ranked No. 49 in the nation by the ITA, Porter improved to 17-11 overall during the 2018-19 season, including a 10-8 mark in duals.
Steenberg avenged her doubles loss when she faced Heras again in singles, picking up a big win in No. 3 singles for MSU Denver with a 7-5, 6-3 victory. Steenberg continues to be one of the most consistent performers for the Roadrunners as the freshman improved to 16-5 on the season (11-4 in duals).
Eliza McKean (Buderim, Queensland, Australia/Sunshine Coast Grammar School) also continued her strong spring in the No. 5 position, defeating Elly Lloyd by a 6-2 count in two straight sets to improve to 4-1 as the Roadrunners' No. 5 singles staple. The fourth singles point belonged to
Ainsley Winterrowd (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston), who beat Erekson in a close match (7-5, 6-4). Winterrowd has been strong in the No. 6 position during dual play, improving to 4-2 with her win on Saturday.
"Winning close matches is important for team chemistry and should give the women confidence moving forward," Graetz said.
MSU Denver is now 10-9 overall, with a perfect 2-0 start to league action. The women are off tomorrow as the men travel to Greeley, Colo., to play Division I Northern Colorado at noon.
The MSU Denver women will end the regular season next weekend with a trio of duals. The Roadrunners are slated to play Tarleton State (10 a.m. MT) and CSU-Pueblo (3 p.m.) in Pueblo, Colo., next Saturday before returning home to play Colorado College at the Regency Athletic Complex at 2 p.m. Sunday. The CSU-Pueblo match will be the last of three conference matches for MSU Denver.
