Lynchburg, Va. – Playing in her first collegiate dual tennis match, freshman Heidi Bulger clinched an Elon victory with a gritty three-set win over Liberty's Maria Turchetto Friday afternoon. Bulger rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 and Elon came away with a 4-3 win over the Flames.
 
For Elon, it was the team's first spring opening victory since 2018 and Head Coach Elizabeth Anderson's 290^th career win. Liberty dropped to 0-1 with the loss.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• After dropping the doubles point, Elon won 4-of-6 singles matches to clinch the team victory.
• Freshman Heidi Bulger clawed her way back into her match at No. 3 singles after dropping the opening set 6-1. She won both of the final two sets by identical 6-3 scores to clinch the match.
• Mariana Reding earned victories in both singles and doubles. She paired with Simone Bergeron for a 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles. She also won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 4 singles.
• Madison Cordisco cruised to a 7-5, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles and freshman Lisa Kranec made her dual match debut with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.
• Elon improved to 5-3 all-time against Liberty, snapping a three-match losing streak to the Flames.
• Liberty was ranked as high as No. 54 in the country by the ITA a year ago.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon will face Longwood Saturday, competing again at Liberty University, at 9:00 a.m.
• The Phoenix is scheduled to host Bellarmine on Friday, Jan. 24 at 2:30 p.m. for the home opener.

 
 
RESULTS
Singles
1 – Yu-Yun Chen (Liberty) def. Simone Bergeron (Elon) 6-4, 6-0
2 – Yoanna Radulova (Liberty) def. Helen Sarikulaya (Elon) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
3 – Heidi Bulger (Elon) def. Maria Turchetto (Liberty) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
4 – Mariana Reding (Elon) def. Sadie Daavettila (Liberty) 6-3, 7-5
5 – Madison Cordisco (Elon) def. Anika Lemus (Liberty) 7-5, 6-1
6 – Lisa Kranec (Elon) def. Celina Joseph (Liberty) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles
1 – Maria Turchetto/Daniella O'Neill (Liberty) def. Miray Konar/Helen Sarikulaya (Elon) 6-4
2 – Mariana Reding/Simone Bergeron (Elon) def. Yu-Yun Chen/Sadie Daavettila (Liberty) 6-4
3 – Yoanna Radulova/Anika Lemus (Liberty) def. Ella Suk/Lisa Kranec (Elon) 6-4
 
Records: Elon 1-0; Liberty 0-1