Washburn tennis cages Cardinals with 7-0 sweeps

Ready to go: Senior Raul-Alin Dicu bounces the ball before making a serve on Oct. 23, 2021. Dicu won the #1 singles match on the men’s side in two sets.

After a scrimmage against Rockhurst University earlier in the day, Washburn tennis was in action on Oct. 23 for its first official match of the season. Both the men’s and women’s teams took on William Jewell College at the Washburn Tennis Complex beginning with doubles matches.

On the men’s side the duo of sophomore Sebastian Pjontek and freshman Tim Hammes won in the No. 1 position with a score of 6-3. Behind them, sophomores Daniel Bird and Miquel Perez won their match 6-1, a score that freshman Noah Neideck and senior Raul-Alin Dicu matched.

The women’s side was equally as successful, led by sophomore Maja Jung and freshman Isabella Martensson in the No.1 spot who secured a 6-3 victory. The only doubles sweep belonged to junior Kinsey Fields and sophomore Marta Torres who won 6-0. Rounding it out was sophomores Cadence Lynn and Sydnee Foster who won 6-1 at the No. 3 spot.

In singles competition on the women’s side Jung played from the No. 1 spot and earned a hard-fought two set victory with 7-5 and 7-6 wins. Martensson worked quickly from the No. 2 position, winning sets with combined scores of 12-2. On court three Fields had equal success, winning in two sets as well as Lynn from the No. 4 spot. Behind them freshman Issabella Pensavalle did not drop a set on her way to two 6-0 set victories while Foster claimed the No. 6 spot victory to complete the sweep.

On the men’s side Dicu competed in the No. 1 spot and swiftly defeated his opponent in two sets. Behind him Perez followed suit with 6-3 and 6-2 set victories. The duo of Hammes and Pjontek was strong from the No. 3 and No. 4 spots respectively, both winning in two sets. In the No. 5 position Bird only lost two points, winning each set 6-1. And finishing the sweep was freshman Kim Niethammer who also won in two sets.

The dominant performance marks the end of the fall slate for Washburn tennis. Next up will be an exhibition against Ottawa University at Genesis Tennis Center on Jan. 30, 2022.
Edited by Ellie Walker
Edited by Simran Shrestha