The ETSU women’s tennis team faced conference opponents Lipscomb and Belmont today and swept both matches 7-0. The Lady Bucs now improve to 12-9 on the season and 6-1 in conference play.
The Lady Bucs started out the day with their match against Lipscomb. ETSU won all three doubles matches, Masha Ilina and Olya Batsula defeated Erin Moakler and Raphaela Jann 8-0 in the No. 1 position. Yevgeniya Stupak and Elena Volobueva defeated Emily and Olivia Ellis 8-3 in the No. 2 position, and Tara Byrne (Johnson City) and Brittany Stewart defeated Casey Hall and Cailtin Khouri 8-2 in the third position.
ETSU didn’t waste any time in singles play, with the 1-0 lead secured the Lady Bucs won all six singles matches in straight sets. Ilina defeated Jann in the No. 1 position 6-1, 6-0, while Stupak put away Moakler 6-0, 6-0 in the second position. In the third slot Batsula defeated Emily Ellis 6-1, 6-2, while Byrne defeated Olivia Ellis 6-1, 6-2. In the No. 5 slot Volobueva won her match 6-2, 6-0 against Hall, and in the sixth position Vita Moskaliova defeated Khouri 6-1, 6-1.
Taking on Belmont in the afternoon match, ETSU claimed a similar victory. Ilina and Batsula picked up another win in the No. 1 position over Tatiana Pozo and April Bradley 8-3, while Stupak and Volobueva won 8-4 against Elizabeth Coyner and Katie Rhodes. In the third position Byrne and Moskaliova defeated Linda Johansson and Kelly Pense 8-3.
In singles action Ilina overcame Linda Johansson in a tiebreaker for the third set 6-1, 4-6 (6), while Stupak defeated Coyner 6-0, 6-1. Batsula won her match in the third position against Pozo 6-2, 6-0, while Byrne defeated Bradley 6-3, 6-0 in the fourth slot. Volobueva defeated Rhodes in the fifth position 6-3, 6-2, and Moskaliova won against Kelly Pense in the No. 6 position 6-1, 6-0.
“Both teams have improved since last year, and I think that allowed us to play closer to our game,” said head coach Steve Brooks. “I am happy with today, now our road trips are done and I can’t wait for our home matches. I think we are doing well and are positioning ourselves well for the conference tournament.

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