Western Kentucky’s women’s tennis team took down an old rival and picked up some welcome momentum on Wednesday at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park.

The Lady Toppers clinched the 4-1 victory over their Conference USA rivals when No. 6 singles player Mariana Zegada finished off a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory over Middle Tennessee’s Rutuja Chaphalkar, giving WKU its 14th win of the season – tied for the fourth-most in a single season in program history, while the 11 home wins are the second-most ever for the Lady Toppers.

Before securing the win in its home finale, WKU (14-9) honored Anna-Marie Kopecka, Sayda Hernandez, Paola Cortez and Samantha Martinez for Senior Day.

Cortez, who teamed with Sayda Hernandez for a 6-0 win over the Blue Raiders’ Eloise Swarbrick and Lena Peyer at No. 1 doubles, said it was challenging to get in the right mindset to play knowing it was her last home match.

“It was hard because I’m thinking of my last match ever here, representing WKU at home,” said Cortez, a redshirt senior. “It’s always really sad, but always also with my head up because I’m competing with the people that I love. I have people that I respect and love also that are supporting me. Everybody’s fighting, every single point.”

The Lady Toppers secured the doubles point after Cortez and Hernandez won and No. 1 and the No. 3 doubles Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova defeated Lilly-Sophie Schmidt and Ilaria Sposetti 6-3.

On to singles, and WKU picked up victories from Blanco, Sunskrithi Damera and Zegada from the No. 3, 5, and 6 positions, respectively, to claim the win in the match.

“We just talked about momentum going into the conference tournament,” WKU coach Greg Davis said. “And so to clinch our 14th win of the season – and that’s tied for fourth in the history of the program – and then to get that momentum going into Monday’s match against a nationally ranked Florida Atlantic team, that’s what we’re looking for as far as going into the conference tournament.”

The Lady Toppers improved to 1-1 in CUSA play this season with the next conference match coming in next week’s CUSA Tournament in Miami. Before that, WKU will take on former conference rival FAU in Boca Raton, Florida.

But on Wednesday, WKU could savor taking down its longtime rival in an emotional match.

“It just feels great – I have no words,” said Martinez, a senior. “I’m super proud of my teammates today. We showed what we are capable of and I’m so proud of it. Everybody fought, everybody gave their best on every point and I couldn’t be prouder.”

WKU will wrap up the regular season on Monday with a 12:30 p.m. CT match against Florida Atlantic before the Conference USA Championship gets underway on Thursday, April 18, in Miami.

Final Results

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

Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) 6-3, 6-4

Paola Cortez (WKU) vs. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-6 (0-2), unfinished

Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-2, 6-2

Sayda Hernandez (WKU) vs. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTSU) 4-6, 6-3, 4-3, unfinished

Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) def. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) 6-3, 6-1

Mariana Zegada (WKU) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 3)

Paola Cortez/Sayda Hernandez (WKU) def. Eloise Swarbrick/Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-0

Samantha Martinez/Mariana Zegada (WKU) vs. Sana Garakani/Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) 2-5, unfinished

Sofia Blanco/Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) 6-3{&end}