LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Although playing on extremely short rest, the Bellarmine University women's team nonetheless managed to pull off a 6-1 victory Sunday over Alabama-Huntsville at Advantage Tennis and Fitness Center.

Bellarmine had played the previous evening in Ashland, Kentucky, against West Virginia State, which is ranked second in the Atlantic Region. The Knights captured a 5-2 win but had little recovery time heading into Sunday's match.

"It was an amazing performance considering we didn't get back into Louisville until after midnight," Knights Coach John Mican said. "I've seen these women play better tennis, but their fight and determination can never be questioned."

Bellarmine (7-1) captured the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1-2, but they weren't easy against the Chargers (3-4). Senior Maggie Walroth and junior Ashley Jonathan outlasted Stefanie Mehlich and Karolin Kirchtag 7-5 at No. 1, and junior Jennifer Skonieczny and sophomore Ava Ratcliff knocked off Presley Thomas and Monika Polakonic 6-4 at No. 2.

"Maggie and Ashley securing the doubles point set the tone for the rest of the match, but we knew it was going to be an epic battle," Mican said. "Every match was an arduous fight. This contest could have easily gone the other way and is considerably closer than the score might indicate."

Indeed, Bellarmine won five of the six singles matches, but two (Skonieczny at No. 1 and Ratcliff at No. 4) went to three sets, and freshman Madison Devillez won 7-5 to close out the second set at No. 6. Jonathan posted matching 6-3 scores and Walroth duplicated 6-2 scores in winning in straight sets at Nos. 2 and 3.  

"Ava has won seven straight singles matches and seven straight doubles matches with Jennifer, and really came through big time all weekend," Mican said. "Jennifer fought back to deliver a nerve-racking win in the third-set tiebreaker. Ashley and Maggie were both on their games in singles. Madison put some icing on the cake with her 12th singles win on the year, and Aubrey (Smith) played her heart out but just came up short."

Bellarmine will host Huntington (Ind.) University on March 9.

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