Women's Tennis | 2/20/2016 9:30:00 PM
Box ScoreAUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's Women's Tennis Head Coach, Kendall Brooks, opened Heartland Conference play with an 8-1 win over UT-Permian Basin on Saturday, thanks to five straight-set victories a singles, and a sweep in doubles.
Wins for
ELISA GUILLEN and
VALENTINA MARTINEZ kept both Hilltoppers tied for the team lead in wins this spring at 5-1.
LAURA GALVAN and
IVANA ZECEVIC stayed hot in doubles to improve to 6-0, and Galvan shut her opponent out in singles, moving to 4-2.
As a team, St. Edward's improves to 4-2 this spring, and 2-0 in regional play. The Falcons fall to 0-7 on the year.
"We're feeling good. I think we were really excited coming out, and in the first conference match you want to start strong," said head coach Kendall Brooks. "I think we did that from the very beginning. Doubles was really exciting today, and we were able to pull out some come-from-behind victories. That was huge for us going into singles up, 3-0. Overall, the singles went well and we're pretty with being 1-0 in conference."
While the final score was one-sided, the competition was not. Zecevic and Galvan scored a quick point for the Hilltoppers, winning 8-2 at No. 3, but wins at No. 1 and No. 2 did not come so easily.
ANJALI SAMPATH and
MARISSA WILLIAMS closed out an 8-6 win in the one spot after trailing early. Martinez and Guillen completed an unlikely comeback at No.2, winning 9-7 after trailing 7-3.
In singles, all of St. Edward's victories came in straight sets. Galvan raced to an 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 4 to make it 4-0, and Zecevic also made quick work of her opponent, 6-2, 6-2, pulling the Hilltoppers within one point of victory. Sampath clinched the win with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 1, while Martinez kept the streak going at No. 5, winning 7-5 and 6-1. UT-Permian Basin's lone point came with a hard-fought win at No. 3, but Guillen closed the match on a high note, 6-1, 6-3.
Coach Brooks and her team will take a break from Heartland Conference action with a road matchup against Trinity next Saturday. Play is set to begin at 2 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas at the Al G. Hill Jr. Tennis Stadium.
