INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women's tennis team will advance to day two of the 2015 BIG EAST Tennis Championships after defeating the Villanova Wildcats on Thursday afternoon by the final score of 4-3.
"The girls once again gave it their all on the court today," Head Coach Tayo Bailey stated. "Facing Villanova, a team we've never played before, was a good challenge for the girls and they performed well."
Butler took the doubles point at the Barbara S. Wynne Tennis Center with wins at No. 2 and No. 1. Grace Hyde and Bailey Padgett picked up the first victory of the afternoon at No. 2 by retiring Kate Pettee and Samantha Schafer 8-1. Villanova responded with an 8-2 win at No. 3, but the point would go to Butler with Konstantina Adami and Kylie Haviland coming up with a clutch 8-4 win over Victoria Martinez and Tori Smyth at the No. 1 matchup.
Butler kept the momentum going during the early stages of singles competition, but three-straight wins by Nova in the middle of the lineup put every set of eyes on the No. 6 matchup between Michelle McFerran and Kate Pettee. McFerran sealed the deal with a 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 victory which pushed the score to 4-3.
"McFerran has given us clutch wins throughout the year and I am happy she was able to do it again in such an important match," Bailey added.
Bailey Padgett and Kylie Haviland were two more Bulldogs that played great for Butler in singles action. Padgett was the first singles player to record a win with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 2 over Victoria Martinez. Haviland followed with a quick 6-0, 7-5 win at the top spot defeating Tori Smyth.
The No. 7 seed Butler Bulldogs will now move forward to face No. 2 seed Xavier tomorrow at 12 p.m. These two teams squared off in the regular season finale just days ago with the Musketeers securing a 7-0 win.
"We look forward to playing Xavier again tomorrow," Bailey mentioned. "As the number two seed, they are tough; but this time around we will find better luck as our number one player is back in the lineup from an injury she had when we played them last weekend."
Butler 4, Villanova 3
Apr 23, 2015 at Indianapolis, Ind. (Barbara S. Wynne Tennis Center)
Singles Competition
1. Kylie Haviland (BUWOMEN) def. Tori Smyth (VU-WOMEN) 6-0, 7-5
2. Bailey Padgett (BUWOMEN) def. Victoria Martinez (VU-WOMEN) 6-0, 6-2
3. Samantha Schafer (VU-WOMEN) def. Konstantina Adami (BUWOMEN) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
4. Alexandra Krogius (VU-WOMEN) def. Angelina Qin (BUWOMEN) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Paulina Bajet (VU-WOMEN) def. Rachel Sutton (BUWOMEN) 6-2, 6-1
6. Michelle McFerran (BUWOMEN) def. Kate Pettee (VU-WOMEN) 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Konstantina Adami/Kylie Haviland (BUWOMEN) def. Victoria Martinez/Tori Smyth (VU-WOMEN) 8-4
2. Grace Hyde/Bailey Padgett (BUWOMEN) def. Kate Pettee/Samantha Schafer (VU-WOMEN) 8-1
3. Paulina Bajet/Linley Busby (VU-WOMEN) def. Michelle McFerran/Angelina Qin (BUWOMEN) 8-2
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,1,5,3,4,6)
No. 7 Butler vs. No. 10 Villanova
BIG EAST Championships Presented by New York Life
Round 1 - Women's
No. 7 Butler advances to play No. 2 Xavier
T-3:20
