EVANSVILLE, Ind. — After fighting through injuries, cancellations, and postponements this year, the Bellarmine women's tennis team ended a long drought to pick up its first win of the season. 
 
The Knights (1-11) bested old GLVC rival Southern Indiana (2-2) by a final score of 6-1 in Evansville – an excellent way for Bellarmine to enter spring break.
 
Bellarmine set the tone by winning their second doubles point of the year.  Madison Devillez and Ashley Jonathan handled Lauren Rowe and Rachel McCorkle in no. 1 doubles 6-2.  Ekaterina Tikhonko and Rose Pastoret dominated Abby Brown and Chloe McIsaac 6-1 at the no. 2 slot to secure the point.
 
BU's singles wins started with Devillez besting Brown 6-2, 6-0 playing at the no. 4 position.  Jonathan then defeated Abby Myers 6-3, 6-0 at no. 3, picking up her second straight singles win of the weekend.  Channing Varnum nabbed the clinching victory at no. 6, beating Madison Windham 6-4, 6-3.  Bellarmine's other two singles wins were three-setters coming at no. 5 from Maja Kozerski (3-6, 6-4, 6-3) and Rose Pastoret at no. 2 (4-6, 6-2, 6-4).
 
Knights Head Coach Brian Slack recognized there are still areas that need improvement but was very excited about the win.
 
"We came out a little slow tonight," Slack said.  "We have to do a better job of being ready from the first point where things weren't going our way.  We lost a couple of first sets, and we were down a break at another spot.  I couldn't be more proud of the fight we showed and how we found a way to turn this match around.  I'm proud of Channing for getting the clinching point tonight and Rose and Maja for fighting back from a set down!  We get some well-deserved rest the next week before our match against UK on March 11."
 
BU's match with Kentucky on March 11 was rescheduled from January 16 due to inclement weather.  The action begins at 4:00 p.m. in Lexington.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights) and Facebook (BUKnights).