AUSTIN, Texas – The 46^th-ranked St. Edward's women's tennis team came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat #36 Cameron, 5-4, in a huge regional matchup Wednesday afternoon at the Strohmeyer Varsity Tennis Courts.
 
St. Edward's (5-6) started doubles play with a quick victory at the number one spot as BROOKE HUGHES and SASHA KHADZHYAN teamed up to take down Cameron's Gutierrez and Tornero, 8-5. The Aggies (10-2) won at number two doubles, but it looked as if the Hilltoppers would get victory at the number three position. SUMMER BIGGS and BREANNE HESSELTINE held a 7-2 advantage needing just one game to close out the match. The Cameron duo won six of the last seven games to force a tiebreaker. The Aggies would take the tiebreaker, 8-6, and a 2-1 team advantage heading into singles play.
 
"I couldn't be more happy with the outcome today," head coach Kendall Brooks said. "We knew it was going to be tough and the girls went out and played confident tennis from the start. I think we set the momentum early in doubles and were not able to close out some of the matches.
 
In singles play, Hughes quickly evened the match with a 6-2, 6-4 win at number one position. Rafaela Hagele gave the Hilltoppers a 3-2 lead with a 6-2, 6-4 win at the number three spot. FRANCESCA CHAHER won at number four singles, 6-3, 6-3, to give the Hilltoppers a 4-2 advantage. Even though the Hilltoppers lost at number two singles, the momentum gave Biggs the spark she needed at five singles, as she rallied from a set down to win her match, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, and give St. Edward's the team victory.
 
"I was really proud of Summer for fighting to split sets and give us a chance," Brooks said. "She played lights out in the third set for the team win. I think we are starting to hit our stride now that we almost have everyone healthy and we are looking forward to this weekend's conference matches."
 
Cameron came into the match ranked fourth in the South Central Region. The Hilltoppers were in the seventh spot.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Friday when they travel to take on Heartland Conference rival McMurry. First-serve is set for 2 p.m. in Abilene, Texas.
 
#46 St. Edward's 5, #36 Cameron 4
Singles competition
1. #47 BROOKE HUGHES (SEUWT) def. Angie Torres (CUWT) 6-2, 6-4
2. P. Gutierrez-Casas (CUWT) def. SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) 6-4, 6-3
3. RAFAELA HAEGELE (SEUWT) def. Samantha Wood (CUWT) 6-2, 6-4
4. FRANCESCA CHAHER (SEUWT) def. Florencia Tornero (CUWT) 6-3, 6-3
5. SUMMER BIGGS (SEUWT) def. Laura Roberts (CUWT) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Antonia Moberg (CUWT) def. BREANNE HESSELTINE (SEUWT) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #15 BROOKE HUGHES/SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) def. P. Gutierrez-Casas/Florencia Tornero (CUWT) 8-2
2. Angie Torres/Samantha Wood (CUWT) def. FRANCESCA CHAHER/RAFAELA HAEGELE (SEUWT) 8-4
3. Magdalena Kovinic/Antonia Moberg (CUWT) def. BREANNE HESSELTINE/SUMMER BIGGS (SEUWT) 9-8 (8-6)
Match Notes:
Cameron 10-2; National ranking #36; Regional ranking #4
St. Edward's 5-6; National ranking #46; Regional ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,3,4,2,5,6)