Steffen Deetjen
Staff Writer

This past weekend was full of action for the USF’s women’s tennis team (11-8, 6-2 WCC). Friday the Dons went up against Pacific (8-10, 2-5 WCC), Saturday the Dons met with Saint Mary’s (11-8, 5-2 WCC) and finished their busy weekend Sunday against Cal (18-3, 8-1 Pac 12). 

The Sunday showdown against Cal left San Francisco wondering what happened with a final score of 4-0 at the Hellman Tennis Complex. Doubles partners Andrea Ka and Marina Nikolic were unable to keep up with opposing tandem Klara Fabikova and Zsofi Susanyi. The USF duo lost by a final score of 8-3. The Don’s singles play was competitive but not fruitful. The Bears closed out the match by sweeping the No. 2, 3, and 4 singles.

Saturday’s matches were the Dons final home games of the season. Senior day finished just how seniors Milica Hadzi-Tanovic and Marina Nikolic wanted, a 4-3 victory against Saint Mary’s. In doubles play, USF players Genevieve McCloskey and Thyra Taune flexed their muscles and dominated opponents Daniel Flores and Mary-Anne Jessup. McCloskey and Taune pushed Flores and Jessup around in a dominating 6-0 win. The Gaels claimed the first point in singles match No.5, giving them a two-point lead. The Dons worked their way back by taking singles match No. 1, 2, 4 and 6. Andrea Ka brought momentum to the team in singles match No. 1 against Daniel Flores, taking two straight sets 6-2 and 6-4. Following Ka’s pace, Thyra Taune tied up the overall match score at 2-2 with a two-set win in singles match No. 2 against Jana McCord, 6-1 and 6-4. USF gained a one-point lead over the Gaels thanks to a victory in singles match No. 4 by Milica Hadzi-Tanovic. Despite their lead, the Gaels knotted the overall match once again with a win in singles match No. 3 over Marina Nikolic. Sofia Holmberg sealed USF’s victory at 4-3 with her win over Emma Crister in singles match No. 6. Holmberg lost to Crister in her first set 5-7 but finished on top in the final two-sets 6-3 and 7-5.

Friday’s match against Pacific was a stressful back and forth but USF came out on top at the Olympic Club with a final match score of 4-3. The Dons gained momentum as they dominated in doubles play in the first and second match. Duo Thyra Taune and Genevieve McCloskey dominated in their match against Regina Suarez and Cristina Saenz de Buruaga Ruiz and left no doubt about who was the stronger pair with a final score of 6-0. Partners Andrea Ka and Marina Nikolic also claimed a point for the Dons in with a win against Hana Ritterova and Iveta Masarova, 6-3. The singles play was nearly even between Pacific and USF but the Dons edged out the Tigers and won the match. Player Andrea Ka played exceptionally well in her match against UOP’s top singles player Iveta Masarova taking two straight sets 6-1 and 6-4.

Photo Credits: Dons Athletics