Women's Tennis | 2/7/2015 12:06:00 AM

AUSTIN, Texas – The #32 St. Edward's Women's Tennis team competed well, but ultimately fell to NCAA Division I Air Force Academy, 6-1, Friday afternoon at the Austin Tennis Academy.

St. Edward's had the upper hand early in each of its doubles matches but Air Force would climb back to take two of the three matches. At No. 1 doubles, BROOKE HUGHES and SASHA KHADZHYAN came away with a 6-3 victory over Tracy Landram and Mary Meyers. At No. 2 doubles, Air Force's Nathasha Rizvi and Lily Ferlini defeated the team of IVANA ZECEVIC and FRANCESCA CHAHER by a score of 6-3. At No. 3 doubles, St. Edward's narrowly missed the doubles point as RAFAELA HAEGELE and MARISSA WILLIAMS fell to Carley Hatcliff and Chloe Ferlini by a score of 7-5. 

St. Edward's dropped five of six matches in the singles portion. Khadzhyan won her match at No. 2 singles by a score of 0-6, 7-5 and 10-5 in the super set. Hughes fell to Rizvi at No. 1 by a score of 6-1,6-4 while Haegele lost to Chloe Forlini by a score of 6-1, 6-0. At No. 4 Zecevic lost to Landram 6-0, 6-4, No. 5 saw Lily Felini defeat Chaher 6-1, 6-2 and Hatcliff clinched the No. 6 singles win with a 6-3, victory over Biggs.

Head Coach Kendall Brooks gave some praise to her players after the match, "I think we got off to a good start against a really tough Air Force team who's played six or seven matches to our one. It's a good experience for our girls to get out there against some high level tennis players and compete."

When asked about the team's effort, Brooks responded with, "All of our doubles looked pretty good today and of course it was nice to see Sasha win her singles match. She's played very well to this point and I asked everyone to give great effort today, each of them responded very well."

The team will have a quick turnaround as they host Texas Lutheran tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm. When asked about her expectations, Brooks said, "In the first match you're always a little anxious so I'm glad we have this one under our belt. I think we will settle in and be ready to play against Texas Lutheran tomorrow.'   

Singles competition
1. Natasha Rizvi (AFWT) def. BROOKE HUGHES (SEUWT) 6-1, 6-4
2. SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) def. Mary Meyers (AFWT) 0-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Chloe Ferlini (AFWT) def. RAFAELA HAEGELE (SEUWT) 6-1, 6-0
4. Tracy Landram (AFWT) def. IVANA ZECEVIC (SEUWT) 6-0, 6-4
5. Lily Ferlini (AFWT) def. FRANCESCA CHAHER (SEUWT) 6-1, 6-2
6. Carley Hatcliff (AFWT) def. SUMMER BIGGS (SEUWT) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. BROOKE HUGHES/SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) def. Tracy Landram/Mary Meyers (AFWT) 6-3
2. Natasha Rizvi/Lily Ferlini (AFWT) def. IVANA ZECEVIC/FRANCESCA CHAHER (SEUWT) 6-3
3. Carley Hatcliff/Chloe Ferlini (AFWT) def. RAFAELA HAEGELE/MARISSA WILLIAMS (SEUWT) 7-5