Western Kentucky’s women’s tennis team defeated SIUE 4-1 on Friday at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park to improve to 3-1 this season.

“Tough day. As we’re pulling out today coming to the match, to find out you lost a good friend and fellow coach on staff – very tough day,” WKU coach Greg Davis said of Western Kentucky Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Brent Chumbley’s sudden passing Thursday night at age 55. “I give the team a lot of credit. Our thoughts and sympathies are with coach Chumbley’s family. To lose a good friend is very tough, especially somebody you saw the other day. It makes you appreciate things a little more each day.”

WKU’s Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova both improve to 3-1 in singles on the season with their wins on Friday. Hermanova’s singles win came against Amelia Gorman, who was ranked 119th in the most recent ITA singles rankings. Hermanova’s singles win was the 52nd of her WKU career, which is the most in program history.

“We went into a huddle here (after doubles) and talked a little bit about things we need to do better for singles,” Hermanova said. “The doubles, unfortunately, we didn’t do our best, but we came back in singles and that’s all that matters. We were able to get it done.”

Blanco earned her 43rd career singles win on Friday and is now one away from being tied for second on the program’s career singles wins list.

Mia Miranda claimed her first singles win as a Lady Topper in Friday’s win over SIUE.

Friday marked the first match this season WKU has lost the doubles point. The Lady Toppers have won the doubles point in three of their four matches this season.

Mariana Zegada and Sunskrithi Damera improved to 2-0 in doubles this season together.

The Lady Toppers will hit the road next week for the first time this season. WKU is scheduled to face Northern Kentucky on Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. CT, and Cincinnati on Feb. 8, at 12:30 p.m. CT.

“I was proud of the way the team competed under tough circumstances, especially coming out and losing the doubles point,” Davis said. “They were more aggressive than us. I’ll give us credit, though. We came back and turned the momentum around immediately in singles. Really proud of the top three getting it done for us today, especially Rachel. Any time you beat a ranked player – I think her opponent was top 125 in singles in the country. Not too many players have done that in the history of WKU Tennis. Any time you get a good win like that and finish a month at a .750 clip, you’ve had a good month.

“We start off the season 3-1. Going on the road next week. Never beaten Northern Kentucky at Northern Kentucky since I’ve been here, so we know that’s going to be a tough one. Cincinnati a few years ago we had match points at their place to win the match and didn’t win. Two tough opponents coming up in two tough places to play. We’re looking forward to competing against both teams, but we’ve got to be at our best and compete at our best.”

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

1. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. #119 Amelia Gorman (SIUE) 6-0, 6-4

2. Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Payton Tomichek (SIUE) 6-4, 6-3

3. Mia Miranda (WKU) def. Cydney Rogers (SIUE) 6-1, 6-2

4. Mariana Zegada (WKU) vs. Paige Duncan (SIUE) 6-0, 4-6, 0-1, unfinished

5. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) vs. Chloe Koons (SIUE) 6-3, 3-2, unfinished

6. Emily Schut (WKU) def. No player (SIUE), by default

Doubles (Order of finish: 1,3,2)

1. Amelia Gorman/Cydney Rogers (SIUE) def. Sofia Blanco/Rachel Hermanova (WKU) 6-3

2. Margaux Guibal Britt/Stefaniya Anikina (SIUE) def. Emily Schut/Mia Miranda (WKU) 7-5

3. Sunskrithi Damera/Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Chloe Koons/Paige Duncan (SIUE) 6-4