STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M University-Kingsville women's tennis program found itself in another comeback effort on Friday at the Potishman-Lard Tennis Courts against Tarleton State, but couldn't secure the final point in the 5-4 loss.

The Javelinas (6-9, 1-1 LSC) rattled off three straight singles wins but the Texanns (6-4, 1-0 LSC) held on in the final two matchups to take the team result.

TSU took the first two doubles matches, while the No. 3 tandem of Victoria Romanovskaia and Viviana Ortiz claimed the lone TAMUK doubles point with an 8-4 final over Erika Johnston and Chrystalynn Shirley.

The hosts took the No. 1 doubles match before the Javelinas took the Nos. 5, 6 and 4. Valerie Ruiz bested Shelby Fillingame (6-4, 6-2), Stephanie Baerman defeated Shirley (6-3, 6-4) and Julia Rauer outlasted Johnston (7-5, 6-2), respectively, for a 4-3 lead favoring the visitors.

The Texanns took the No. 2 singles matchup to even the count at four apiece, while Laura Montalvo was locked in a close affair with Sherine Salem in the No. 3 matchup.

Montalvo dropped the first set, 6-2, but rebounded with a 6-4 win in the second. Salem would go on to claim the matchup at 6-4 in the decisive third set.

The Javelinas will remain on the road to tackle Newman and North Central Texas on Sunday, March 25, in Arlington, Texas, at the Arlington Tennis Center.

Tennis Match Results
Tex. A&M-Kingsville vs. Tarleton State
Mar 23, 2018 at Stephenville, Texas
(Potishman-Lard Tennis Courts)

Tarleton State 5, Tex. A&M-Kingsville 4

Singles competition
1. Barbaroux (TSU) def. Romanovskaia (TAMUK) 6-2, 6-4
2. Sud (TSU) def. Philavong (TAMUK) 7-5, 6-1
3. Salem (TSU) def. Montalvo (TAMUK) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
4. Rauer (TAMUK) def. Johnston (TSU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Ruiz (TAMUK) def. Fillingame (TSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Baerman (TAMUK) def. Shirley (TSU) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Barbaroux/Salem (TSU) def. Philavong/Ruiz (TAMUK) 8-4
2. Sud/Fillingam (TSU) def. Baerman/Montalvo (TAMUK) 8-6
3. Romanovskaia (TAMUK) def. Johnston/Shirley (TSU) 8-4
 
Match Notes:
Tex. A&M-Kingsville 6-9, 1-1 LSC
Tarleton State 6-4, 1-0 LSC

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