The Butler women's tennis team opened the 2020 season over the weekend, going 2-1 across Saturday and Sunday at the Butler Bubble. The Bulldogs picked up wins over Western Illinois (7-0) and Valparaiso (4-3), and fell to Western Kentucky (3-4).

On Saturday, Butler's only loss of the weekend came in the opening match against the Hilltoppers. The Bulldogs went 1-2 in doubles, with the lone win coming from the team of Emily Neal/Kendal Wilby, claiming a 6-2 victory.

In singles, Logan White tallied a strong win in the No. 2 flight (6-0, 6-3), while Sara Linn won 6-3 both sets in the No. 5 flight. Western Kentucky picked up straight set wins in the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4 flights to claim match.

Later, the Bulldogs bounced back with a perfect 7-0 win over Western Illinois. The doubles teams of Lauryn Padgett/Sarah Monesmith and Neal/Wilby picked up 6-2 wins, while White/Linn won by default for a clean sweep doubles round.

On the singles side, Linn dominated the No. 4 flight (6-1, 6-0), followed by White taking a 6-1, 6-2 win in the No. 1 flight.  Nina Bertino followed suit with a 6-1, 6-2 win at the No. 3 spot, while Neal kept the Bulldogs perfect, holding on for a 7-5, 6-2 win in the No. 2 flight.

Monesmith closed out the singles round in style, owning a 6-0 win in both sets for the No. 5 flight. Hallie Leblebijian won the No. 6 flight by default.

On Sunday, the Bulldogs faced off with Valparaiso, holding on for the 4-3 win that came down to the result of the final singles match-up.

The Bulldogs and Crusaders split the first two doubles matches as White/Linn won 6-3 in the No. 2 spot and Padgett/Monesmith fell 4-6 in the No. 1 flight. Neal/Wilby closed doubles play with a close 7-6 win to hold the advantage heading into singles play.

Butler and Valparaiso traded wins in singles, including two sets that went the distance, to bring the match down to the wire in the No. 5 flight. Linn won the first set 6-2 before falling 1-6 in the second, forcing a third set. Linn closed out the round, winning 6-2 and securing the match for the Bulldogs.

Butler (2-1) will face Purdue (0-1) on Monday, Jan. 20 in West Lafayette for the first road match of the season. Match time is set for 4 p.m. at the Schwartz Tennis Center. 
 
Western Kentucky 4, Butler 3
 
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 2, 1)

1. Von Dungern/Friess (WKU) def. Padgett/Monesmith, 6-4
2. Bryant-Otoke/Bernardos (WKU) def. White/Linn, 6-2
3. Neal/Wilby (Butler) def. Diaz-Saez/Wende, 6-2

Singles (order of finish: 1, 4, 2, 3, 6, 5)

1. Von Dungern (WKU) def. Padgett, 6-3, 6-3
2. White (Butler) def. Bryant-Otoke, 6-0, 6-3
3. Bernados (WKU) def. Neal, 6-1, 7-6
4.  Friess (WKU) def. Bertino, 6-4, 6-3
5.  Linn (Butler) def. Wende, 6-3, 6-3
6.  Monesmith (Butler) def. Diaz-Saez, 6-4, 1-1 (WKU retired)

 
Butler 7, Western Illinois 0
 
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1, 2)

1. Padget/Monesmith (Butler) def. Ballesteros/Kancherla, 6-2
2. Neal/Wilby (Butler) def. Simhambhatla/Vidal, 6-2
3. White/Linn (Butler) win by default

Singles (order of finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5)

1. White (Butler) def. Ballesteros, 6-1, 6-2
2. Neal (Butler) def. Simhambhatla, 7-5, 6-2
3. Bertino (Butler) def. Kancherla, 6-1, 6-2
4. Linn (Butler) def. Vidal, 6-0, 6-1
5. Monesmith (Butler) def. Stevens, 6-0, 6-0
6. Leblebijian (Butler) win by default

 
Butler 4, Valparaiso 3
 
Doubles (order of finish: 2, 1, 3)

1. C. Czerwonka/Schoolcraft (Valpo) def. Padgett/Monesmith, 6-4
2. White/Linn (Butler) def. O. Czerwonka/Jhaveri (Valpo), 6-3
3. Neal/Wilby (Butler) def. Sysouvanh/Tabanera, 7-6

Singles (order of finish: 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5)

1. White (Butler) def. C. Czwewonka, 6-4, 6-4
2. O. Czerwonka (Valpo) def. Padgett, 6-4, 6-1
3. Tabanera (Valpo) def. Neal, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Bertino (Butler) def. Schoolcraft, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
5. Linn (Butler) def. Jhaveri, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
6. Sysouvanh (Valpo) def. Monesmith, 6-0, 6-1