Hoosiers Show Resiliency, Split Matches Against Xavier, Cincinnati

Saturday, January 26

Bloomington, Ind.

11:00 AM

Indiana University

Xavier

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 20, 2019 - Natalie Whalen of the Indiana Hoosiers during the Winter Invitational at the IU Tennis Center in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Missy Minear/Indiana Athletics

Hoosiers Show Resiliency, Split Matches Against Xavier, Cincinnati

1/26/2019 10:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Competing with only six players available, including without their No. 1 player, the Indiana women's tennis team split two matches on the day. The Hoosiers fell 4-0 against Xavier, but came back in dramatic fashion for a 4-3 victory against Cincinnati.

Against Cincinnati the Hoosiers came out strong in doubles. Indiana led 4-1 at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, before the Bearcats rallied for 7-5 victory and a victory at No. 1 doubles to get the doubles point.

Jelly Bozovic put the Hoosiers on the board with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles.

Caitlin Bernard showed resiliency for the Hoosiers. Bernard dropped for first set, 6-1, but came back to win the next two, 6-3, 6-3 to win her match and pull Indiana within one at 3-2.

Michelle McKamey pulled off a gutsy performance to win a second set tie-break, 7-5 to win her match and tie the overall match against the Bearcats.

After forcing a third set with a 7-5 tie-break Natalie Whalen provided the final spark for the Hoosiers. Whalen dominated the final set as she let out a roar on match point to finish a 6-0 set and give the Hoosiers the 4-3 victory.

In the match against Xaiver, the Mus struck first in doubles with a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles, the Hoosiers team of Caitlin Bernard and Natalie Whalen pulled out a 6-4 victory. Xavier eventually took the deciding doubles match to claim the point.

The singles matches were closely contested as two of Xavier's three singles wins ended in tiebreaks. Of the three matches that didn't finish two were in third sets and the Hoosiers led 5-4 in the second set of the third.

Xavier 4, Indiana 0
Singles competition
1. Natalie Whalen (IND) vs. Ahmeir Kyle (XU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-2, unfinished
2. Sophia Abelson (XU) def. Caitlin Bernard (IND) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Jelly Bozovic (IND) vs. Emily Thomas (XU) 6-2, 2-6, 3-2, unfinished
4. Rachael Reichenbach (XU) def. Michelle McKamey (IND) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Somer Henry (IND) vs. Anna Letto (XU) 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
6. Hunter Roper (XU) def. Anna McCoy (IND) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles competitio
1. Caitlin Bernard/Natalie Whalen (IND) def. Sophia Abelson/Anna Letto (XU) 6-4
2. Ahmeir Kyle/Emily Thomas (XU) def. Jelly Bozovic/Michelle McKamey (IND) 6-4
3. Hunter Roper/Rachael Reichenbach (XU) def. Anna McCoy/Somer Henry (IND) 6-2

Indiana 4, Cincinnati 3
Singles competition
1. Natalie Whalen (IND) def. Antonella Bramato (UC) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
2. Caitlin Bernard (IND) def. Ioana Guna (UC) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Jelly Bozovic (IND) def. Caroline Morton (UC) 6-2, 6-3
4. Michelle McKamey (IND) def. Alexia Coutino (UC) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Maria Santilli (UC) def. Somer Henry (IND) 6-1, 6-1
6. Emma Miceli (UC) def. Anna McCoy (IND) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competitio
1. Antonella Bramato/Alexia Coutino (UC) def. Caitlin Bernard/Natalie Whalen (IND) 6-2
2. Ioana Guna/Anna Philp (UC) def. Michelle McKamey/Somer Henry (IND) 7-5
3. Anna McCoy/Jelly Bozovic (IND) def. Emma Miceli/Caroline Morton (UC) 7-5

Head Coach Ramiro Azcui
"I'm really proud of the team. The way we competed in that second match especially being tired and still under the shock that one of our top players did not play in this match. I think everybody really in the second match believed we were going to be able to step it up and they did and we talked about it. We challenged them and I'm really proud of the way they competed and came through with the win."

"I think this team has matured and they showed great energy. They had a lot of belief. I think not having Madison playing in this match and not having Olga in this first match I think really affected us mentally and we were not ready to play Xavier. I think after that I really liked the way we competed and I liked the way the energy was so much higher for the second match. I'm really happy for these kids just because they needed to see that they can get a win like that."

Up Next
Up next the Hoosiers host Western Michigan on Saturday Feb. 2 and Marquette and Butler on Sunday Feb. 3.