NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (Tennis) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2-2) continued its stellar debut, defeating future Lone Star Conference member UTPB (2-1), 5-3, on Monday afternoon in New Braunfels.
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With the win, the Javelinas have earned back-to-back victories for the first time since being reinstated in 2011-12 and downed the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for the first time in school history. TAMUK also improves to 1-0 against Division II opponents.
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Ranked No. 10 in the South Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the Falcons took doubles No. 3 but
Mariaxi Herrera and
Marija Dimitrovska earned an 8-5 win in doubles No. 1 and
Tabata Lua and
Nadia Grjl shined in doubles No. 2, downing UTPB, 8-3, to head into singles action with a 2-1 edge.
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Herrera took a close singles flight as the top seed, 6-4, 7-5, and
Paula Saenz earned a singles No. 5 win, 6-2, 6-2, but the Lady Falcons rallied back and took singles No. 3 and No. 4 to make it a 4-3 match. However, this week's IBC Bank Javelina Female Athlete of the Week
Erika Larrea took the clinching match in flight 6, 6-2, 7-5, to improve to 4-0 on the season.
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Tennis takes a week off before returning to the courts on Feb. 27 at No. 16 St. Mary's University (2-1). The Rattlers defeated Southland member Incarnate Word, 9-0, on Feb. 12.
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