LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a dominant home effort, the Bellarmine women's tennis team claimed two 7-0 wins over Marian University (Ind.) and Southern Indiana on Saturday at the Eddie Weber Tennis Complex.

The Knights were about as dominant as possible, winning every set in both matches.

In the opening matchup, Bellarmine swept doubles to win the first point.  Ekaterina Tikhonko and Vendula Kryslova continued their excellence with a 6-2 victory at no. 1 doubles.  Lailaa Bashir and Cydney Rogers powered to a 6-0 win at no. 2 doubles, while Hanley Riner and Shu Grosso earned a 6-2 win at no. 3 doubles.

Bashir played no. 1 singles in the first match and bested Betija Dusele 6-0, 6-4.  Tikhonko handled Katharina Bopost 6-0, 7-6 at no. 2 singles.  Kryslova beat Emma Chrome 6-1, 6-4 at the no. 3 singles spot, while Rogers cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at no. 4 singles.  There was not much difference at no. 5 and no. 6 as Shu Grosso beat Josie Yarbrough 6-0, 6-2 and Hanley Riner topped Joelle Leihbacher 6-4, 6-3.

"We came out really strong in doubles and played well in the first match," Knights Head Coach Brian Slack said.  "We also played well in singles in the first sets.  We relaxed a little in the second sets, but overall I was happy with how our team played against a solid Marian team.  Hats off to Cydney Rogers for keeping her head down and staying locked in throughout her match!"

The Knights kept it rolling in their afternoon match, rolling past Southern Indiana for the second consecutive season. 

Tikhonko and Kryslova nabbed a 6-0 win at no. 1 doubles, while Bashir and Rogers teamed up for a 6-0 win at no. 2 doubles.  Both doubles matches took less than twenty minutes, while Grosso and Riner's no. 3 doubles match went unfinished (leading 4-2 at the time).

Tikhonko had the no. 1 singles assignment against USI and bested Lauren Rowe 6-0, 6-4.  Bashir pushed through Rachel McCorkle 6-2, 6-0 at no. 2 singles, while Kryslova earned a 6-2, 6-2 win against Madison Windham at no. 3 singles.  Rogers had the most dominant singles win against USI, beating Khandice Thomas 6-0, 6-1 at no. 4 singles, while Grosso claimed a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Abby Myers at no. 5 singles.  Hanley Riner wrapped up the day with a 6-2, 6-0 win against Abby Brown at no. 6 singles.

"In the second match, we came out with a lot more energy," Slack added.  "That was our focus from the first to the last point.  I was happy with how we played our doubles and played a high level from top to bottom.  In singles, we did a really good job of just doing what we needed and staying the course with the game plan.  That was our most complete match as far as energy from beginning to end this season!"

Bellarmine heads to Knoxville on Friday for a doubleheader versus Charlotte and host Tennessee.

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