Final Results
Lourdes began the spring portion of its schedule on Friday afternoon, dropping its Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opener 7-0 to the University of Northwestern Ohio inside Westwood Tennis Center in Lima, Ohio.
"This program is still in its infancy and seeing the progress these ladies have made the past two seasons is an invigorating way to begin the season," head coach
Epifani Jones said after the match.
The Racers opened the contest taking the doubles point. Lourdes top team of
Bella Chela (Lusaka, Zambia/Pretoria H.S. for Girls) and
Olivia Schoppa (Gutersloh, Germany/Stadtisches Gymnasium Gutersloh) fell 6-2 while number two team of
Mallory Schardt (Temperance, Mich./Bedford H.S.) and
Laura Ortiz (Bogota, Columbia/Gimnasio Los Pinos) lost a 6-0 decision.
Vanessa Skouroukos (Toledo, Ohio/Waite H.S.) and
Luciana Merediz (Lima, Peru/Colegio Nuestra Senora del Carmen) also lost 6-0 at the third spot.
In singles action, Chela fell 6-0, 6-0 at the top of the lineup while Schardt and Schoppa each dropped 6-1, 6-0 decisions at second and third singles respectively. Ortiz lost a 6-0, 6-2 match at number four while Skouroukos fell 6-2, 6-0 at the fifth spot. Merediz, making her collegiate debut, suffered a 6-1, 6-1 setback.
"What a strong debut by Luciana," Jones added. "She's a bundle of potential and I can't wait to see her blossom."
Lourdes (0-1, 0-1 WHAC) returns to action next Saturday, Feb. 17, as the Gray Wolves travel to Wooster, Ohio to face the College of Wooster. The first serve is set for 1:30 p.m. inside Aspen Racquet Club.
