MONROE, La – ULM's first hosted fall tournament since 2010 could not have gone much better. Petra Horakova and Ioana Popescu had undefeated runs in their respective 16-member brackets, each defeating rivals from Louisiana Tech in the championship as part of an overall 6-0 day for the Warhawks.
It was a familiar feeling for Horakova, who also won her flight at Southern Miss' Eagle's Nest Invitational exactly a year ago. This time around, she knocked off back-to-back opponents from close rival Louisiana Tech in the tournament's final day. The first match was a 6-4, 6-1 decision over Jazmin Britos, followed by a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Alexandra Starkova, the top-ranked player in the Southeast region.
Horakova, the only member of the team who is not a freshman, gave praise to the program for her big start to her senior campaign.
“All the early morning wakeups were turned into the match and you can actually see it, and that's incredible,” Horakova said. “I have to give a big credit to my coaches and RJ (Nagel) because he was always on the court with me and telling me to calm down. He was a big support. The system made for us is the best in Division I. If you take what they give you and work hard, you can do this.”
Popescu, a freshman from Pitesti, Romania, began her day with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Laura Matuskova of South Alabama. Her championship bout with Marta Sramkova (Louisiana Tech) was the last match of the two-day long tournament, ending with a dramatic celebration by the Warhawks on their home court.
Matuskova's singles victory against ULM in the 2015 Sun Belt Tournament semifinals was the difference in the Warhawks' season-ending 4-3 loss.
Tiffany Mylonas played the first match of the day for the Warhawks, winning her only set 6-1 against Alex Kitchen before her opponent retired. On the same court shortly after, Caitlin Herb made quick work of Heather Mixon from UL Lafayette, winning 7-6, 6-1.
The weekend featured 51 student-athletes from nine schools.
ULM returns to action on Friday for the two-day UCA Fall Tennis Tournament in Conway, Ark. There is also the ITF Women's Circuit in Charleston, S.C., from Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Pairings for which Warhawks will attend each event will be determined later.
Flight One Singles
Horakova def. Britos (LA Tech), 6-4, 6-1.
Horakova def. Starkova (La Tech), 6-3, 6-1.
Mylonas def. Kitchen (Southern Miss), 6-1, ret.
Flight Two Singles
Popescu def. Laura Matuskova (South Alabama) 6-1, 7-5.
Popescu def. Sramkova (Louisiana Tech) 6-4, 7-5.
Herb def. Mixon (UL Lafayette), 7-6, 6-1.
