JMU Captures First Road Win, Downs Marshall 5-2

Friday, March 4

Huntington, W.Va.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

Marshall

3/4/2022 7:09:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Madison women's tennis opened its weekend in the Mountain State with a 5-2 victory at Marshall on Friday evening at the Brian David Fox Tennis Center.

The Dukes improved to 5-7 on the year after notching their first road win of the season, while the Thundering Herd dropped to 7-8.

The match opened up with a pair of 6-2 doubles wins for Marshall to give the hosts the early 1-0 lead.

The team of Madi Ballow and Jutte Van Hansewyck defeated JMU's Kylie Moulin and Daria Afanasyeva on court two, before Emma Vanderheyden and Sophia Hurrion downed Daniela Voloh and Michelle Los Arcos on court one to secure the point.

On court three, Amanda Nord and Natalia Nikolopoulou led Aisling McGrane and Gabrielle Clairotte, 5-3, when the match went unfinished.

In singles play, the momentum shifted back in JMU's favor, as Kylie Moulin rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Ballow on court two to even the match.

Shortly after, the Dukes grabbed the lead for good, at 2-1, as Voloh dispatched McGrane for a 6-0, 6-4 triumph on court four. Nord extended the lead on court six, taking down Clairotte, 6-1, 7-5.

After a Marshall win by Vanderheyden on court one to make it a 4-2 score, the match was clinched by the Dukes on court five.

Hope Moulin shut the door on Marshall, as she defeated Hurrion, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch a team win on her court for the first time in her career. With the result in hand, Afanasyeva capped off the day with a 6-4, 6-2 win versus Van Hansewyck on court three.

QUOTING COACH SHELLEY JAUDON
"These girls have been working and working for this moment to have one go their way, and it didn't happen to us it happened for us. The girls struggled through doubles, something we're trying to figure out, but came out swinging in singles and were ready to go. It helped to get some quick sets from courts two, four and six, who all came out either 6-0 or 6-1. That set the tone for singles and gave us a lot of confidence. We've been battling hard, they've been working really hard, so I'm proud for them and excited for them to close one out on the road."

"Consistency across the board is huge. It's a confidence boost to everybody when there's consistency, because it takes pressure off each of them and they can all go out and do their thing. It was great to have Dasha back out there and Hope, she's been battling and getting better and better all spring, so to see her get first clinch was exciting."

UP NEXT
JMU is back in action in Huntington, W.Va., on Saturday, March 5, as it battles #62 Michigan State in a neutral-site match. The opening serve is set for 1 p.m.