Tennis Bears Clinch Tournament Spot with Win at Bradley

PEORIA, Ill. – The Missouri State tennis team secured another 4-3 win and a spot in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with a victory at Bradley on Saturday.
 
In their penultimate match of the regular season, the Bears (13-8, 4-3 MVC) got out ahead with the doubles point. In the No. 2 match, Tuana Gunal and Juliette Robinson defeated Bradley’s duo of Alexandra Hildreth and Anna Belogliadova with a score of 6-2.
 
The battle came in the singles matches. For the third match in a row for the Bears, it came down to the No. 3 singles match. Yet again, freshman Tuana Gunal delivered the win for MoState. In the first set, Gunal battled for the upper hand and came out on top with a 7-5 win. The native of Gebze, Turkey cruised through the second set to win 6-3 and secure the win for the Bears.
 
Nicole Ross was the first singles winner of the day with a win at No. 5 over Hildreth. Ross took the first set 6-2 before moving on to win the second set 6-1 in her 13^th singles win in dual matches. With today’s victory, Ross improves to 5-2 in conference play and secures a winning record.
 
In the No. 6 match, Sandra Lukacova put the Bears in position to win. Just like in doubles, Lukacova faced Rogers. The junior from Slovakia fought to take the first set 6-4 before going on to take the second 6-2. Her win streak extends to five matches, and she has also secured a winning record in the conference season.
 
With their 13^th win this season, Missouri State has broken the record for team wins since the program was resurrected for the 2014-15 season. The last time the Bears had 13 wins in a season was 2003.
 
MoState’s regular season concludes on Sunday with a match at Illinois State at noon.
 

 
Results
Missouri State (13-8, 4-3) – 4, Bradley (8-15, 2-5) – 3
Doubles
1. Cristina Flaquer/Nicole Ross (MOST) lost to Kirstin Hailey/Andra Sirbu (BRAD) – 6-0
2. Tuana Gunal/Juliette Robinson (MOST) defeated Alexandra Hildreth/Anna Belogliadova (BRAD) – 6-2
3. Mary Houston/Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Maria Bezmenova/Madi Rogers (BRAD) – 6-4
 
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
 
Singles
1. Cristina Flaquer (MOST) lost to Maria Bezmenova (BRAD) – 7-6 (6), 6-3
2. Mary Houston (MOST) lost to Anna Belogliadova (BRAD) – 6-4, 1-6, 2-6
3. Tuana Gunal (MOST) defeated Kirstin Hailey (BRAD) – 7-5, 6-3
4. Julliette Robinson (MOST) lost to Andra Sirbu (BRAD) – 6-4, 6-0
5. Nicole Ross (MOST) defeated Alexandra Hildreth (BRAD) – 6-2, 6-1
6. Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Madi Rogers (BRAD) – 6-4, 6-2
 
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 6, 1, 2, 3