ST. LOUIS, Mo. - For the second straight day, women's tennis has won against a team at least receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll. The Leafs defeated Missouri Baptist, who is receiving votes, 5-2. The men lost to the #13 Spartans 3-4.
Women - Goshen 5, Missouri Baptist 2
Blanka Bodo and
Maria Clara Fonte won 6-2 at #2 doubles, but MBU won the doubles point overall 2-1. This was the fourth straight doubles win for Fonte and the third in a row for Bodo. Playing from behind, the Maple Leafs proceeded to win five of the six singles matches and secured another upset win.
Uliana Dotsenko won at #1 singles 6-4, 6-3 and
Blanka Bodo won at #2, 6-2, 6-2.
Vishmi Serasinghe came from behind to win at #4 singles 2-6, 7-6, [10-5].
Marin Kawano dominated at #5 singles 6-3, 6-1 and
Sara Nino did so at #6, winning 6-1, 6-3. Nino has won four straight singles matches and is 12-3 overall this season.
Men - Goshen 3, Missouri Baptist 4
The men cruised through the doubles matches against their top-15 opponent, winning all three and not allowing the Spartans to win more than three games in any of the matchups.
Timo Novak and
Denis Stanculov won 6-3 at #1 doubles,
Iago Ciucio and his teammate
Garrett Stoltzfus won 6-2 at #2 doubles and
Filippo Gallo and
Paulo Santiago won 6-3 at #3 doubles. Ciucio and Stoltzfus are both 11-3 in doubles competition this season.
While Goshen rallied on the women's side, Missouri Baptist came back to win on the men's side. The bright spots for the Leafs came at #4 and #5 singles.
Filippo Gallo won 6-4, 7-6 and
Denis Stanculov won 7-5, 6-3.
Goshen is at Marian on Friday, March 20, at 3:00 pm to start Crossroads League play. The Marian women are #10 in the NAIA and the men are #15. The Goshen men are currently receiving votes.
