After suffering its first loss of the season last weekend, the Sycamore women's tennis team (7-9, 5-1 MVC) responded with a pair of home wins over Northern Iowa (12-7, 1-4 MVC) and Drake (10-9, 4-1 MVC).
The Sycamores sit second in the Missouri Valley Conference and have done so with only four players after freshman Aleksandra Dzakula suffered a season-ending injury.
"We only need four points to win the match," sophomore Sarah Meghoufel said. "We have no pressure, and we are using it in our favor, fighting for each point...Each match counts...and it works."
Northern Iowa visited the Wabash Valley Tennis Complex on Friday, where the Sycamores came away with a 5-2 victory over the Panthers.
After forfeiting the No. 3 doubles as well as No. 5 and No. 6 singles, the Sycamores won every match in which they competed.
Freshman Elmine Botes competed in the toughest match of the day, winning the first set 6-1 before dropping the second set 4-6. Botes then rallied to win the third set and the match 6-4.
It was much of the same for the Sycamores on Sunday when they hosted the Drake Bulldogs at the Duane Klueh Tennis Complex.
The Sycamores were once again able to win all four matches they competed in for a 5-2 win.
Meghoufel and Botes got things started with a win in No. 1 doubles, 8-3.
Freshman Anya Morgina and junior Sofya Lifanova then followed with a 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles.
In singles action, Meghoufel won the first set of her No. 1 singles match 6-0. Then, in the second set Meghoufel won in exciting fashion in tie break, 7-6.
With the win, Meghoufel remains undefeated this season in singles.
"I am practicing hard to stay undefeated," Meghoufel said. "I am working with Coach on the things that will help me to win these matches. Especially because we know most the players in the conference and we know how to play against them."
At No. 2 singles, Morgina came back from early deficit after dropping the first set 5-7, to win her match 6-1, 6-2.
Lifanova made quick work of her No. 3 singles match as she won 6-4, 6-0.
Botes also came away with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in No. 4 singles.
Despite only having four players, the Sycamores still have high goals set for the season.
"The team's goal is to win the rest of the matches and the conference," Meghoufel said. "We know we can do it."
The Sycamores will next be in action at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Evansville.
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