No. 19 Marian Lands Upset Win Over No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan in Crossroads League Opener

Marion, Ind. – The start of the 2024 Marian women's tennis season came with a bang on Tuesday afternoon, as the Knights snapped an 18-match losing streak against Indiana Wesleyan. No. 19 Marian completed the 5-2 upset win over the No. 15 Wildcats with five wins in singles, beginning their season 1-0.

Marian opened their match on a sour note at the conclusion of doubles, falling behind 0-1 as Indiana Wesleyan claimed two of the three matches. Sofia Munoz and France Antezana made easy work of their match over the Knights' top doubles pair in Michelle Irigoyen and Ana Lopez Torres by a 6-1 count, but Marian would level the doubles score as No. 2 pair Yasmin Imamniyazova and Ana Barbosa Fernandez scored a 6-1 win. The Marian duo defeated Lauren Dick and Maria Oliveira to tie the point, however the Knights could not rally at No. 3 doubles, as Katie Parr and Meribel Jarna defeated Liliane Alinquant and Paloma Caceres Villabla 6-3.

Marian trailed 1-0 after doubles, but would score their first team point of the match on the No. 4 singles court, as Fernandez took down Oliveira 6-3, 6-0. Indiana Wesleyan would reclaim the lead as Munoz earned a swift 6-2, 6-2 win over Imamniyazova on the No. 1 singles court, but the Knights came roaring back winning the remaining four singles matches.

Caceres Villalba defeated Lauren Dick 6-2, 6-3 to tie the match at No. 6 singles, and at No. 5 singles Alinquant scored a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jarna to take a 3-2 advantage. At No. 3 singles, Marian clinched the match under Michelle Irigoyen, as she won 6-3, 6-3, sealing the victory. Ana Lopez Torres would complete the afternoon with a three-set win at No. 2 singles, defeating Antezana by a 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (8) final score, sealing the 5-2 win.

Marian's win over Indiana Wesleyan is the first in 18 matches, with the last win for the Knights in the series coming on August 26, 2014, in what was a 5-4 victory.

The Knights will look to ride their momentum into their next Crossroads League matchup, as they host Mount Vernon Nazarene on Thursday in their home opener, taking on the Cougars at 2:00 p.m.

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