Youngstown State University
Milwaukee
Penguins Claim First Title Since 2018 With Thrilling Win Over MKE
5/1/2022 6:55:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Youngstown State women's tennis team defeated Milwaukee 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in a thrilling Horizon League Championship contest on a windy afternoon at the Michigan Varsity Tennis Center.
The Penguins won the doubles point and three singles matches to best the Panthers and earn the program's first HL title since 2018.
YSU built a 3-1 lead before the match came down to No. 6 singles, a contest featuring Lili Minich and Anika Tylek. Minich pulled out a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over Tylek to claim the title for Youngstown State.
The Penguins picked up the doubles point with victories at No. 2 and No. 3. Eliska Masarikova and Elisa Rigazio cruised to a 6-1 win at No. 3, however the Panthers picked up a quick 6-2 victory at No. 1.
In the decisive third match at No. 2, Jessica Stanmore and Minich trailed 2-0 to start the contest before tying the contest 3-all. Milwaukee took a 4-3 lead before the Guins won two straight points to go in front 5-4. YSU had a match point, but the Panthers staved off the defeat winning a deuce point. The Penguins rebounded nicely to win the next two points as a Minich smash at 40-30 of the 6-5 contest was the winner.
At No. 3, the Penguins took a 2-0 lead before the Panthers got on the board. YSU won the final four points to seize the early doubles victory.
Rigazio won her match with relative ease at No. 4 by a 6-0, 6-3 score over Iva Stejskalova. Soon after the Panthers picked up their first singles win, Cecilia Rosas picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win over Greta Carbone to put YSU on top 3-1.
But the Panthers picked up momentum with a pair of victories setting up a winner-take-all third-set between Minich and Tylek. Minich opened the set by winning three consecutive points before Tylek had some momentum following a break and was up 40-0. However, Minich won that point and was able to go on top 4-1. Tylek closed to 4-2, but Minich earned the final two points and the championship-clinching win.
The NCAA selection show is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
4,2,1,5,3,6
