SMU Women’s Tennis Wins At Hawaii

{fshare id=6111}

HONOLULU — The SMU women’s tennis team snapped its three-game losing skid in triumphant fashion, defeating 64th-ranked Hawaii, 6-1, on the road Wednesday at the UH Tennis Complex in Honolulu.

“This team has the biggest heart I have seen,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We are struggling with health issues but to give as much as they did today is unbelievable. I am extremely thankful and very proud.”

SMU (8-3, 2-0 The American) led early, winning the doubles point with victories in the No. 1 and 2 matches. Vaszilisza Bulgakova and Dasha Sharapova (No. 1) defeated Cindy Nguyen and Klara Pribylova, 6-4, while Hristina Dishkova and Holly Verner (No. 2) topped Rebecca Faltusz and Martina Kostalova, 6-4.

Hawaii (4-7, 1-2 Big West) received its lone doubles victories from Viktoria Malova and Sarah Gealer, who defeated Yana Erkeeva and Mary Wright, 6-2. Malova also earned the lone point for the Rainbow Warriors, beating Anna Kate Anderson in No. 2 singles, 7-5, 6-3.

In singles for SMU, Dishkova recorded a big win in the No. 1 match, topping 68th-ranked Cindy Nguyen, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6. Erkeeva (No. 4), Bulgakova (No. 5) and Wright (No. 6) also earned singles points for the Mustangs.

Sharapova notched the match-clinching point, her third of the season, defeating Martina Kostalova in No. 3 singles, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

The Mustangs remain in Hawaii for a match with Cal State Fullerton Thursday. Start time is slated for 2 p.m. CT/10 a.m. HT.