LAS VEGAS - The Purdue women's tennis team completed its fall schedule last weekend at the UNLV Invite, capturing a third place finish in one singles draw and a consolation championship in another. The Boilermakers also earned a consolation doubles championship during the three-day event at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
Together, freshmen Ena Babic and Zala Dovnik tallied four of Purdue's five victories in singles, each finishing 2-1 in Flights B and D, respectively. After the first lost her opening match 6-3, 6-3 to Anna Bogoslavets of UNLV, the Boilermaker defeated her next two opponents to claim the consolation title. Babic bested Julia Ivascu of Texas A&M 6-2, 6-2 in the second round and Camila Westbrooks of Arizona 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the final.
Conversely, Dovnik won her opening match 6-1, 6-1 against fellow Aggie Margo Taylor, but dropped her second round match 6-0, 6-0 to UNLV's Juliet Zhang. The newcomer quickly rebounded, though, defeating Arizona's Sophia Thomas 6-4, 7-6 to claim third place.
In Flight A, sophomore Alex Sabe went 1-2 against the field, winning her second round match 6-3, 6-3 against Martina Lo Pumo of Grand Canyon. Junior transfer Amina Mukhametshina also struggled in Flight C, leaving the tournament 0-2.
In doubles, despite both of Purdue's tandems finishing 1-2, sophomore Caitlin Calkins and partner Dovnik clinched the Flight B title with a third round victory over Bogoslavets and partner Samantha Li. The Boilermakers benefitted from both a late change in format and close, 8-7 victory over the Rebels.
In the Flight A draw, Babic and Sabe also lost their first two matches, but left the tournament winners as they defeated Grand Canyon's Celina Buhr and partner Lo Pumo 8-2 in the final round.
The Purdue women's tennis team will return to action in January, opening the spring season inside their Schwartz Tennis Center with a home doubleheader. Details regarding those two matches and the entire regular season schedule will be released in December.