LUBBOCK, Texas (March 29, 2024) – No.24 Lubbock Christian University claimed their first Lone Star Conference victory of the season and it came in their first LSC home dual, as they cruised past Texas A&M-Kingsville 5-2 Friday afternoon at Penny Gullo Tennis Center.
The Lady Chaparrals squeezed into singles play with a 1-0 advantage after winning two of the three doubles matches. After dropping the No.1-doubles match, LCU rebounded with a win in No.3-doubles, as
Axelle Jacquemin /
Anastasiia Khrustaleva picked up a 7-5 win. The victory placed the focus on the No.2-doubles match involving LCU's No.40-nationally ranked doubles team of
Andrea De Bernardo /
Michelle Trochez. They were tied 6-6 in their match and they relied on a 7-3 tiebreaker to win the set/match 7-6, giving LCU the doubles point.
LCU surged in singles, as they built their lead to 3-0 behind wins by
Anastasiia Opolska (No.5-singles) and Jacquemin (No.4-singles) to open singles play. No.7 Alessa Maier won in No.1-singles for the Javelinas to interrupt the LCU point-gaining sequence, but the Lady Chaps responded with
Mariia Koroleva (No.6-singles) clinching the dual with a singles win for a 4-1 lead. LCU closed the dual with
Michelle Trochez winning the decisive third set 1-0 off an 11-9 tiebreaking-win in No.2-singles.
Trochez's win was her first in the No.2-singles spot of the season (1-3). Opolska improved to 21-4 this season (21 wins leads the team) in singles play and 15-1 in singles played in duals. She has won 10 consecutive singles matches. Koroleva, winning her sixth consecutive singles match, improved to 18-3 overall in singles and 13-1 in singles played in duals (she is 6-0 in No.6-singles matches).
The doubles team of De Bernardo / Trochez matched LCU's season-high in doubles wins with their 14
th of the season (improved to 14-7), as they match Jacquemin / Opolska (14-3). De Bernardo / Trochez are 2-1 in LSC play.
The Lady Chaps improved to 16-3 overall this season. Their first LSC win has them with a 1-2 conference record. LCU improved to 2-0 all-time against TAMUK. Saturday, the LCU tennis program is recognizing Brain Injury Awareness Month and raising funds for Team Luke Hope for Minds. It begins at 11:45 a.m. with a ceremonial first serve and the dual against No.19 Angelo State begins at 12 p.m. (noon). Merchandise giveaways and food trucks are planned, and donations towards Team Luke are encouraged.
