WTEN: Bulldogs Fall To Belmont, 4-3

Saturday, February 17

Nashville, TN

1 p.m.

Gonzaga University

Belmont University

2/17/2024 9:28:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

The Zags play Lipscomb tomorrow

By: Written by Noah Schaber, Sports Information Intern

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Earlier this afternoon, the Gonzaga women's tennis team traveled to Nashville to face Belmont University in a nonconference dual match. This was the first match in program history between the Zags and Bruins.

Opening with the doubles competition, Belmont's Mariia Hlahola and Anastasiya Zholdakova defeated Gonzaga's Kianna Oda and Emily Robertson by a score of 6-3 on court one. Belmont's Viktoria Kliimand and Vesa Gjinaj clinched the double point on court two, earning a 7-6 win over Gonzaga's Ella Nielsen and Brooke Bittner. In the No.3 spot, Gonzaga's Tiegan Aitken and Caroline Wernli claimed a 6-2 victory against Belmont's Libbie Hamilton and Hana Sokolovic.

Moving to the single competition, Hlahola clinched a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Robertson on court one. In the No.2 spot, Gjinaj defeated Oda by a score of 6-4, 7-5. Nielsen picked up a victory, claiming a 6-4, 6-2 win against Zholdakova on court three.

Gonzaga continued to battle in their matches on the final three courts. Aitken dominated, earning a 7-6, 6-1 court four win over Kliimand. In the No.5 spot, Wernli defeated Sokolovic by a score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. In the final singles match of the day, Bittner lost 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 to Hamilton on court six.

Up Next: Following today's match, the Gonzaga women's tennis team will conclude their road trip tomorrow, as they are scheduled to face Lipscomb University at 3 pm. The Zags will return to the Stevens Center on February 23rd, when they will play Montana State at 2 pm.

Live stats for Gonzaga's match against Lipscomb can be found at GoZags.com.

Records: With today's loss, the season record for Gonzaga drops to 2-5. For Belmont, their record on the year improves to 5-3 with the win. The historical record between the Bulldogs and Bruins also moves to 0-1.

Results:
Belmont 4, Gonzaga 3
Singles Competition:
1. Mariia Hlahola (BELW) def. ROBERTSON, Emily (GON) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
2. Vesa Gjinaj (BELW) def. ODA, Kianna (GON) 6-4, 7-5
3. NIELSEN, Ella (GON) def. A. Zholdakova (BELW) 6-4, 6-2
4. AITKEN, Tiegan (GON) def. Viktoria Kliimand (BELW) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. WERNLI, Caroline (GON) def. Hana Sokolovic (BELW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
6. Libbie Hamilton (BELW) def. BITTNER, Brooke (GON) 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles Competition:
1. Mariia Hlahola/A. Zholdakova (BELW) def. ODA, Kianna/ROBERTSON, Emily (GON) 6-3
2. Viktoria Kliimand/Vesa Gjinaj (BELW) def. NIELSEN, Ella/BITTNER, Brooke (GON) 7-6 (7-1)
3. AITKEN, Tiegan/WERNLI, Caroline (GON) def. Hana Sokolovic/Libbie Hamilton (BELW) 6-2