Yahsha Moore picked up points for Wayne State with wins at first singles and doubles.
MIDLAND, Mich. -- Wayne State (Mich.) earned its first NCAA tournament victory since 2010 on Monday, winning four consecutive singles matches to clinch a 5-2 first-round win against Missori-St. Louis. The NCAA Midwest Regional match was played at the Midland Community Tennis Center and hosted by Northwood (Mich.).
The third-seeded Warriors (24-4 overall) trailed the sixth-seeded Tritons (17-7) 2-1 following the doubles matches, but turned the momentum of the match quickly after the singles matches began. Wayne State won the first set in four of the five singles matches to gain control of the match. Wayne State would go on to win four straight-set victories to complete the comeback and earn the victory.
Juniors Anne Li Briand and Yahsha Moore earned the victory in doubles for the Warriors. The pair earned an 8-2 victory at the No. 1 flight, topping UMSL's duo of Louisa Werner and Nina Bellanger. With the victory, the pair also tied the single-season school record with their 24th victories in doubles.
The triumph by Briand and Moore gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Missouri-St. Louis gained the lead, 2-1, after winning both Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches by scores of 8-4.
Moore was the first to complete her match in singles. She posted a 7-5, 6-3 win at the top flight in singles against UMSL's Lina Parra to even the match score at 2-2.
Wayne State closed out the victory with three more victories in singles. At the No. 4 flight, Briand won in straight sets, earning a 6-4, 6-3 win against Bellanger. Not long after, sophomore Julia Kamenko also won in straight sets, topping UMSL's Natalia Carvalhais 7-5, 6-3.
Sophomore Alex Poissant clinched the Wayne State victory with her triumph at the third flight. Poissant dropped just six games overall, winning against UMSL's Renee Verboven 6-3, 6-3.
Freshman Andreea Mitrache dropped the first set at the No. 2 flight, but rebounded for a 6-1 second-set victory. Her match with UMSL's Werner was in the third set before Wayne State clinched the match win.
The victory is the third NCAA tournament victory in the past six years for the Warriors. Wayne State also earned first-round NCAA regional tournament wins in 2009 and '10. WSU will look to earn its first regional championship on Tuesday against No. 2 seed Northwood (22-0).
