KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M University-Kingsville women's tennis program was locked in a 4-4 tie against No. 17 Cameron on Friday at the Javelina Tennis Courts, and fell in the third set of the final singles matchup as the visitors took the decision at 5-4.

The Javelinas (8-10, 1-2 LSC) suffered their fourth one-point defeat in three weeks as the 17th-ranked Aggies (10-5, 1-1 LSC) held on for the decision.

The Blue and Gold dropped a pair of doubles points to CU while Victoria Romanovskaia teamed up with senior Viviana Ortiz at the No. 3 spot and bested the Aggie combo of Melany Opolz and Rebeka Velasova at 8-4 to set the team score at 2-1 heading into singles play.

The teams ended up splitting the singles matches as the Javelinas took three of five heading into the final bout. Julia Rauer bested Opolz in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-0, at the No. 3 matchup before Stephanie Baerman overcame Velasova in consecutive sets, 6-4 and 6-4, in the No. 6 head-to-head, while Valerie Ruiz outlasted Sara Petric in the No. 5 matchup in back-to-back sets at 7-6 and 7-6.

The Aggies took the Nos. 1 and 3 matchups to set the stage as Phonephathep Philavong and Mathilde Thibaudat were locked in a three-set battle at the No. 2 matchup.

Thibaudat took the first set, 6-3, before Philavong claimed the second at 7-5 to force the decisive set. The Aggie held on for the decision, however, as Thibaudat ended up on top at 6-4 in the final round.

The senior duo of Ortiz and Martina Urrutia were honored in their final home match in the Blue and Gold following the final score.

The Javelinas will head out on the road next week for three matches in three days as they start with a makeup match against Laredo CC on April 6 starting at 11 a.m. CT. TAMUK will follow up with a pair of Lone Star matches against UT-Permian Basin and Angelo State on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Tennis Match Results
Cameron vs Tex. A&M-Kingsville
Mar 30, 2018 at Kingsville, Texas
(Javelina Tennis Courts)
#17 Cameron 5, Tex. A&M-Kingsville 4

Singles competition
1. Zhenia Shviadok (CU) def. Vic Romanovskaia (TAMUK) 6-0, 6-1
2. Mathilde Thibaudat (CU) def. Thep Philavong (TAMUK) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
3. Sarah Frendo (CU) def. Laura Montalvo (TAMUK) 6-3, 6-3
4. Julia Rauer (TAMUK) def. Melany Opolz (CU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Valerie Ruiz (TAMUK) def. Sara Petric (CU) 7-6, 7-6
6. Stephanie Baerman (TAMUK) def. Rebeka Velasova (CU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Zhenia Shviadok/Mathilde Thibaudat (CU) def. Stephanie Baerman/Laura Montalvo (TAMUK) 8-6
2. Sarah Frendo/Sara Petric (CU) def. Valerie Ruiz/Thep Philavong (TAMUK) 8-5
3. Vic Romanovskaia/Viviana Ortiz (TAMUK) def. Melany Opolz/Rebeka Velasova (CU) 8-4

Match Notes:
Cameron 10-5, 1-1 LSC; National ranking #17; Regional ranking #5
Tex. A&M-Kingsville 8-10, 1-2 LSC; Regional ranking #7
T-5:15

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