SIUE Women Topple Nebraska Omaha on Senior Day
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - On Senior Day, it was only fitting that a pair of seniors that led the way for the SIUE women's tennis team in a 5-2 victory over Nebraska Omaha Thursday at the SIUE Tennis Courts.
"I am pleased to get our seniors a victory on this special day," said SIUE Head Coach Jason Coomer. "Carli Connors, Joanna Corkern, and Laura Horning have all been excellent leaders for our younger players, and a foundation to build upon during the transition to Division I."
The Cougars, now 7-12 overall, opened the match winning the bottom two doubles positions to pick up the critical doubles point.
Corkern and Amanda Miller breezed through an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles over UNO's Lindsay Wiedeman and Heather Hottman to get things started.
Haley Ilcewicz and Lindsey Raymond followed by earning an 8-3 victory at the No. 2 spot over Kelsie Olson and Jacqueline Baude.
Raymond put SIUE in front 2-1 with an impressive 6-2, 6-1 triumph over UNO's Olson as she moved into the No. 2 singles position.
"We asked a lot of Lindsey today to step in at No. 2," said Coomer. "It was a tall order, but she came through with one of her best matches of the season."
However, it was a pair of seniors that were the deciding factor for the Cougars in singles as Horning and Corkern picked up wins at the No. 4 and 5 spots, respectively.
Horning won her first set over the Mavericks' Baude 6-0 before dropping the first three games of the second set. Undeterred, the Oakville, Ontario, native claimed the next six games for the 6-0, 6-3 victory.
Corkern jumped out quickly against Rachel Pierson and cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win clinching the victory for SIUE.
The closest match of the day came at No. 3 singles where Ilcewicz rallied from a set down to win the final two sets in tiebreakers earning the victory 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).
"Haley fought through the match and her toughness allowed her to prevail," added Coomer. "I was excited for her to pull through."
The Cougars close the season Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. when they host Western Illinois in a match rescheduled from early April.
