A broken heater leading to freezing cold temperatures equaled no problem for the BGSU tennis team as they posted a 5-2 victory at Butler University this past weekend.
“We’re used to it,” junior Kelsey Jakupcin said. “We practice outside until the end of October. Once we started playing we got more used to it and it was fine.”
The heater inside the bubble, which covers the courts, was broken, so the teams, coaches and fans had to endure freezing cold temperatures.
It was BG’s first dual-match of the season.
The Falcons started off strong after winning two of the three doubles matches to get the doubles point and an early lead.
The tandem of senior co-captains – Jenna Nussbaum and Andrea Volle – defeated Hawes/McLoughlin, 8-4, while the duo of Jakupcin and freshman Christine Chiricosta came from behind to beat Casperson/Jenkins, 9-7, in first doubles action.
“We worked really well together trying to get back on our feet because we went down 7-6,” Jakupcin said. “We just used our heads and got back into it.”
“That gave us good momentum going into the singles,” said BG coach Penny Dean, referring to Jakupcin/Chiricosta’s win that led to winning the doubles point.
Good momentum it was, as BG went on to win four of the six singles matches.
Jakupcin started the winning off for BG as she defeated Natali James handily, 6-1, 6-0, in first singles action.
“I think [Jakupcin] was really on,” Dean said. “[Jakupcin] came prepared to play and meet the challenges – mentally and physically.”
“[James] just never really had a chance,” Dean said, referring to Jakupcin’s win.
In other singles play, sophomore Katia Babina and junior Stefanie Menoff won the third and sixth flights, respectively, while sophomore Sam Kintzel came from behind to beat Gabriella Bobrowski – 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) – in what Dean called a “grueling, intense match.”
“It was a good opening match,” Dean said. “Butler was stronger than they’ve been for a couple of years.”
The Falcons continue dual-match play as they return home to play Youngstown State on Saturday (Jan. 26) and Wright State on Sunday.