Western Kentucky’s women’s tennis team beat Southeast Missouri 5-2 on Friday at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park to improve to 2-0 on the season.

The win improves WKU to 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2022, when the Lady Toppers reeled off five straight victories to start the season. WKU is now 5-2 all-time against SEMO, including wins in each of the last two seasons in Bowling Green.

“It was good to get a win and start off with two wins in a row to start the season,” WKU women’s tennis coach Greg Davis said in a news release. “We’ve got a very difficult opponent in Lipscomb – this is my seventh year, and I think this is one of their best teams they’ve had in the seven years I’ve been here – so we’re hoping to get a big crowd on Sunday. This is going to be a really tough opponent. They’re extremely well coached and they’re very, very deep this year. They go seven to eight deep, so we’re going to have our hands full this Sunday with Lipscomb, no doubt about it.”

WKU claimed the doubles point for the second time in as many matches this season. The duo of Emily Schut/Mia Miranda improved to 2-0 in doubles play this season, while Sunskrithi Damera/Mariana Zegada improved to 1-0 together this season.

“I think (the key was) coming here and first of all doubles being energetic, making sure we were all playing aggressive, and same in the singles,” Schut said. “As a team, I think we worked together today and it’s working out. It’s looking positive.”

WKU’s Sofia Blanco, Rachel Hermanova, Schut and Zegada all improved to 2-0 in singles play this season with their wins over SEMO.

Hermanova’s singles win was the 51st of her WKU career. The 51 career singles wins are a program record.

“It’s always important, whether it’s home or away, to get off to a good start in a season, especially because a season is so short and everything just goes and goes,” Hermanova said. “We have another opportunity here on Sunday. So far it feels good, but it’s just the beginning of the season.”

Blanco earned her 42nd career singles win and is now two away from being tied for second in career singles wins in WKU history.

The Lady Toppers will face Lipscomb in the third match of a four-match homestand to start the 2025 season. The match against the Bisons is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park.

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

1. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Lera Valeeva (SEMO) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

2. Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Yontha Tadoum (SEMO) 6-4, 6-1

3. Maja Bajorek (SEMO) def. Mia Miranda (WKU) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)

4. Juliette Demunck (SEMO) def. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) 5-7, 6-1, 10-8

5. Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Mia Mayerova (SEMO) 7-5, 6-0

6. Emily Schut (WKU) def. Kristina Kozakova (SEMO) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles (Order of finish: 2,3)

1. Sofia Blanco/Rachel Hermanova (WKU) vs. Maja Bajorek/Mia Mayerova (SEMO) 4-3, unfinished

2. Mia Miranda/Emily Schut (WKU) def. Lera Valeeva/Kristina Kozakova (SEMO) 6-1

3. Mariana Zegada/Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) def. Yontha Tadoum/Claudia Casas (SEMO) 6-2