Zehender, Fernandez roll in Omaha, help lead UW past Creighton

OMAHA, Neb., -- The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team got a big win Saturday night on the road as the Cowgirls rallied to defeat Creighton 4-3 in Omaha and improved their record to 4-3 on the season.

The loss handed to the Bluejays was their first defeat of the season.

After losing the doubles point after three hard-fought matches, Wyoming rallied during singles play to win 4-of-6 in singles play, to rally for the win. Saturday’s victory is UW’s first true road win of the season.

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In doubles play, the duo of Ana Fernandez and Sophie Zehender continued their strong season together, defeating the team of Alex Centra and Joanna Nowakowska, 7-6 (7-5) at the No. 2 position. It was Wyoming’s lone win during doubles play. With the win, Fernandez and Zehender moved to 5-1 on the season as a doubles team.

The team of Lucia Malinak and Maria Oreshkina lost a tough match at the No. 1 spot, 7-5 while at No. 3 doubles, Mihaela Kaftanova, and Ida Krause lost 6-0.

After losing the first match of the day during the singles portion of play, UW rallied to win three consecutive singles matches, winning at Nos. 3-5. Malinak got Wyoming its first point of the day with her victory at the No. 5 spot, defeating CU’s (3-1) Centra, 7-5 and 6-4.

The Cowgirls followed Malinak’s victory up with wins at No. 3 and 4 singles, thanks to Fernandez and Noesjka Brink, respectively. Fernandez defeated Emma Gener, 7-6 (7-3) and 6-0 while Brink defeated Nowakowska, 6-2 and 6-4.

Zehender was able to secure the victory for the Cowgirls, as her match at the No. 2 position was the final of the day to finish. Zehender was able to win a very competitive, three-set thriller over Creighton’s Sarah Wilcox, winning 6-1, 2-6, and 6-3.

“This is the definition of a team win,” said UW head coach Dean Clower following the match. “Everyone on our team showed up and battled. I was really proud of how we rebounded after losing the doubles point. We won five of the first six sets in singles play and changed the momentum of the match from there. . Kudos to Creighton, they are a well-coached and feisty team.”

Next up for the Cowgirls, is their third consecutive road match as they’ll travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., next Saturday, Feb. 27 for a matchup with Northern Arizona.

Wyoming at Creighton
2/20/21 at Omaha, Neb.

Wyoming 4, Creighton 3
Doubles competition
1. Kate Krueger/Sarah Wilcox (CU) def. Lucia Malinak/Maria Oreshkina (WYO) 7-5
2. Ana Fernandez/Sophie Zehender (WYO) def. Joanna Nowakowsa/Alex Crane (CU) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Emma Gener/Malvika Shukla (CU) def. Mihaela Kaftanova/Ida Krause (WYO) 6-0

Singles competition
1. Krueger (CU) def. Oreshkina (WYO) 6-2, 6-3
2. Zehender (WYO) def. Wilcox (CU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
3. Fernandez (WYO) def. Gener (CU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
4. Brink (WYO) def. Nowakowska (CU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Malinak (WYO) def. Centra (CU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Shukla (CU) def. Krause (WYO) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0