Marion, Ind. - For the third time in program history, the Marian women's tennis team has captured the Crossroads League Regular Season Championship, as the Knights defeated Indiana Wesleyan to clinch the league title on Saturday morning behind the team's 5-2 victory. Marian's win improves the team to 8-0 in Crossroads League play, while jumping to 11-6 overall this season.
The Knights began their championship-clinching match with a point in doubles, as they won two of the three matches against No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan in doubles to take the first point of the match.
Jimena Rivera Flores and
Michelle Irigoyen teamed up to defeat Maria Oliveira and Katie Parr by a 6-4 score at No. 2 doubles, while at No. 3, the duo of
Ana Barbosa Fernandez and
Liliane Alinquant won 6-3 against Lauren Dick and Meribel Jarna. The two wins gave Marian a 1-0 lead, allowing
Yasmin Imamniyazova and
Ana Lopez Torres to go unfinished at No. 1 doubles, leading their match 5-4.
In singles, the Knights extended the match lead with
Michelle Irigoyen's comforting win at No. 3 as she defeated Katie Parr 6-1, 6-0, but the Wildcats would respond at No. 4 singles, as
Jimena Rivera Flores was defeated by Nicole Puga by the same scores as the third court. Marian rebounded after the defeat with
Ana Lopez Torres clinching a victory at No. 2 singles with her 6-2, 6-2 win over Meribel Jarna, while
Liliane Alinquant won the match for the Knights with her 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 5 singles.
Marian would add a fifth team point in its victory as Paloma Caceras Villalba won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6 singles against Lauren Dick. The Wildcats would win a lengthy match at No. 1 singles to end the match, as
Yasmin Imamniyazova was defeated 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 by Sofia Munoz to end the 5-2 contest.
Marian will dip into non-conference play before playing their final Crossroads League match of the season, hosting Oakland City on Wednesday, April 15, at 12:00 p.m. from USTA Midwest.
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