Box Score MONROE, La. --- The Warhawk tennis team opened the spring with a victory and claimed program win number 500 in resounding fashion by defeating Alcorn State 7-0 at Heard Stadium on the campus of ULM Thursday afternoon.
ULM (1-0) swept through doubles and picked up straight-set victories at each of the six singles positions to win the match in run-away fashion. Alcorn State (0-1), an NCAA Tournament participant from a season ago, fell behind early and was never able to recover.
“I am glad we were able to open the season and get the program's 500th victory in convincing fashion at home,” ULM head coach Terrence De Jongh said. “It is a mark of pride for our program, athletic department and community to have won that many times and our team is really excited that they were able to be the ones who won it.”
The Warhawks opened the match 1-0 by sweeping through the three doubles matches before moving on to the individual bouts.
Junior Lena Satge cruised to victory in the top spot, downing Stefania Guzman without dropping a single game, 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Claire Clark quickly followed suit and picked up a convincing 6-0, 6-2 win in the sixth position over Sarah Jo Peters.
Senior Sharon Makhanya would clinch the match for the Warhawks, giving the team the necessary fourth point following a 6-0, 5-1 injury retirement by Denisse Favela at number five singles.
Sophomore Ana Burjaili finished shortly thereafter by winning 6-0, 6-2 over Diana Favela in the second singles slot. Senior Marion Lehmann made the Warhawks advantage 6-0 with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-2 win at number four singles.
Playing in her first collegiate match, freshman Monica Winkel gave the Warhawks the 7-0 shutout victory with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Katherine Hopelman in the third singles slot.
ULM begins working on its next 100 wins on Saturday when it travels to Starkville, Miss., for a 11:30 a.m. bout against Mississippi State (2-0). Part of a two-match weekend, ULM will also play at Delta State on Sunday before returning to Monroe, La.
Singles
1. Lena Satge (ULM) def. Stefania Guzman (AS) 6-0, 6-0
2. Ana Burjaili (ULM) def. Diana Favela (AS) 6-0, 6-2
3. Monica Winkel (ULM) def. Katherine Hopelman (AS) 6-4, 6-2
4. Marion Lehmann (ULM) def. Kali Sandoval (AS) 7-5, 6-2
5. Sharon Makhanya (ULM) def. Denisse Favela (AS) 6-0, 5-1(ret.)
6. Claire Clark (ULM) def. Sarah Jo Peters (AS) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. Burjaili/Satge (ULM) def. Guzman/Hopelman (AS) 8-4
2. Makhanya/Winkel (ULM) def. Di. Favela/Peters (AS) 8-1
3. Clark/Lehmann (ULM) def. De. Favela/Sandoval (AS) 8-3
