The University of Dayton women’s tennis team started its five-match home stand at the Five Seasons Sports Club on a sour note on Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2, against Ball State University and Xavier University.
The Flyers were feeling confident going into this weekend’s competition, according to head coach Ryan Meyer, emerging with a three-match win streak from the previous weekend against Robert Morris University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and cross-town rival Wright State University.
On Friday though, Ball State was able to slow down the Flyers with the final score of the match going 5-2 in favor of the Cardinals.
Dayton freshman Carly Peck came out on top in No. 2 singles 2-6, 6-2, 10-6, winning the tie-breaker set against BSU freshman Ayaka Terashi. Dayton junior Sammi Hornbarger fell against BSU sophomore Courtney Wild at the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 6-2.
Dayton junior Maureen Stevens lost to BSU freshman Courtney Earnest in No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-0, while junior Claire McNulty lost her No. 4 singles match against BSU freshman Bethany Moore, 6-2, 6-2.
Dayton was able to clinch the doubles point behind Stevens and Peck starting things off in No.1 doubles with an 8-5 win, followed by the team of Hornbarger and freshman Katie Boeckman prevailing 8-7 (7-3) in No. 2 doubles.
Following the BSU match, Xavier outplayed the Flyers in every match on Saturday, winning 7-0 to open Atlantic 10 play.
Peck and Stevens lost in No. 1 doubles, 8-4, and Hornbarger and Boeckman fell short against Xavier freshman Alex Brinker and junior Allyson Westling in No. 2 doubles 8-2. Xavier swept doubles play with an 8-3 win by sophomore Daniella Patton and junior Andrea Wolf over Filbrandt and McNulty.
Hornbarger’s match set the tone for the rest of the singles competition, losing in No. 1 singles 6-2, 7-5, to Xavier senior Katie Pleiman. Peck lost her match in No. 2 singles to Patton 6-1, 6-1, Stevens was defeated in No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-2, and McNulty lost the No 4. Singles match versus Xavier senior Kally Alkire 6-2, 6-2.
Dayton fell to 4-5 during the spring schedule with the two losses.
Hornbarger said despite the setbacks, the team hopes to move on after this weekend’s competition and continue making strides in the right direction.
“We fought hard and played well this weekend,” Hornbarger said. “We faced some good teams out there and we’ll just have to move and put it behind us.”
So far this spring season, Hornbarger has put on an impressive performance, leading the team in singles competition.
She is a natural leader, on and off the court, said Meyer.
“She leads by example, Meyer said. “There isn’t a bad quality about her. She is also very determined, and able to succeed against the highest level of competition.”
Boeckman also has stepped it up so far this spring season for the Flyers. Her performance during Dayton’s three-match winning streak helped earned her the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Award on Jan. 28, marking her first award ever as a collegiate athlete.
“It feels great to be represented by such a talented athlete like Katie,” Meyer said. “With that in mind, it’s our goal to win the Atlantic 10 and Katie can help us do that.”
Boeckman has won numerous matches to date in No. 4 singles competition during the spring schedule, most recently against Robert Morris and IUPUI.
Boeckman, Hornbarger and the rest of the UD women’s tennis team are back on the court against Youngstown State University at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at the Five Seasons Sports Club.
