Box Score | Season Stats

DALLAS (SMU) - A day after sweeping Sam Houston State in its season opener, the SMU women's tennis team defeated McNeese State, 6-1, on Saturday at the Brad and Ann Brookshire Family Indoor Pavilion at the SMU Tennis Complex.

SMU improved to 2-0 on the season, while McNeese State dropped to 1-3.

"Today, I thought we were great," said head coach Kati Gyulai. "Our energy level was fantastic. Our effort was fantastic. Credit to McNeese State, they raised their level of play in the second sets, but we never panicked and I think that shows the maturity of this team."

SMU opened the match by winning the doubles point after victories on courts one and three. In No. 3 doubles, Yana Erkeeva and Mary Wright defeated Vivien Borbely and Andreea Nenu, 6-0. Vaszilisza Bulgakova and Dasha Sharapova then clinched it for the Mustangs, beating Klaudia Gawlik and Anastasija Trubich, 6-1.

In singles, Holly Verner won the No. 6 singles match, defeating Nenu; 6-0, 6-2. Wright then defeated Trubich in two sets in No. 5 singles; 6-1, 6-4.

Sharapova clinched the match for the Mustangs, earning a three-set victory over Hannah Brett in No. 3 singles; 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

Hristina Dishkova and Bulgakova also recorded singles victories for SMU. Dishkova won in three sets over Gawlik in No. 1 singles; 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Bulgakova then came from behind to defeat Borbely in No. 4 singles. Borbely won the first set, 7-6 (5). Bulgakova fought back to win the second, 6-4, before winning the deciding ten-point tiebreaker, 10-2.

McNeese State's Julia Kral earned the only point for the Cowgirls, topping Anna Kate Anderson in No. 2 singles; 7-6 (4), 6-4.

"Fundamentally, I thought we played pretty well, especially in doubles," said Gyulai. "I'm very happy with what I saw today."

The Mustangs return to the court on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for a match versus Louisiana Tech at 3 p.m. CT at the SMU Tennis Complex. Admission is free.

Singles
1. Hristina Dishkova (SMU) def. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Anna Kate Anderson (SMU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
3. Dasha Sharapova (SMU) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
4. Vaszilisza Bulgakova (SMU) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 10-2
5. Mary Wright (SMU) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-1, 6-4
6. Holly Verner (SMU) def. Andreea Nenu (MCN) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles
1. Vaszilisza Bulgakova/Dasha Sharapova (SMU) def. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-1
2. Hristina Dishkova/Holly Verner (SMU) vs. Hannah Brett/Julia Kral (MCN) unfinished
3. Yana Erkeeva/Mary Wright (SMU) def. Vivien Borbely/Andreea Nenu (MCN) 6-0

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