KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M University-Kingsville women's tennis program returns to the Javelina Tennis Courts on Wednesday, March 7, to face off with the University of Tampa in a midweek nonconference bout.
The Javelinas moved to 4-5 on the year after coming off a weekend split with Arkansas-Fort Smith and St. Edwards, while the Spartans sit at 5-3 after taking a split with Palm Beach Atlantic and Nova Southeastern.
TAMUK took a trip north to Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, March 3, to tackle Arkansas-Fort Smith and came away with a 5-4 decision behind strong singles play.
The UAFS match came down to the final singles bout of the day as
Valerie Ruiz outlasted Samantha Wong in three sets to secure the win. Ruiz dropped the first set at 6-2, but rebounded with a 6-3 win in the second set and sealed the decision with a 7-5 win in the third set.
Julia Rauer teamed up with
Stephanie Baerman in the No. 3 doubles matchup to get the Javelinas on the board, while Rauer,
Viviana Ortiz and
Phonephathep Philavong added wins in their respective singles matchups to take the team win.
TAMUK couldn't carry the momentum into the match against St. Edwards, unfortunately, as the Hilltoppers came away with an 8-1 decision to snap the Javelinas' three-match win streak.
Philavong and Ruiz took the lone win of the match as the No. 2 doubles team with an 8-6 final score over Laura Galvan and Elisa Guillen, but St. Edward's swept singles play to put the match out of reach.
The Javelinas' 4-5 record comes with wins over Trinity University, Prairie View A&M, No. 12 Midwestern State and Arkansas-Fort Smith.
TAMUK's upset win over No. 12 Midwestern State came on the heels of strong singles play as Philavong, Montalvo, Ruiz and Baerman all secure match points in their singles bouts. The No. 2 doubles combo of Baerman and Montalvo started the rally with a thrilling 9-7 win over Greta Lazzarotto and Ashley Ramirez in the early goings.
Tampa's 5-3 record is courtesy of wins over the State College of Florida, Eckerd, Embry-Riddle, Oakland and Palm Beach Atlantic, with losses to No. 17 Florida Southern, No. 2 Barry and Nova Southeastern.
The Spartans took a 7-2 win over the Sailfish on March 2 behind a sweep in doubles play and four of six wins in singles play. The Sharks handed Tampa its third loss of the year at 5-4 as the Spartans dropped two of three doubles matches with a 3-3 split in singles play.
On the year, Tampa is led by Lilley Nice who is 8-2 overall and 5-2 in duals as the Nos. 3 and 4 singles. Close behind is Corbin Dorsey with an 8-3 overall record, 6-2 in duals, between the Nos. 4 and 5 singles.
Amanda Baxter is the only other Spartan with a record above .500 as she is 5-3 overall, 3-1 in duals, as the Nos. 5 and 6 singles.
As a team, Tampa is 22-13 in doubles play as Dorsey teams up with Carolina Lozo for the No. 1 doubles team and a 5-3 record in duals, followed by Vanina Iordanova and Maddie Stephens at No. 2 doubles with a 5-3 dual record, while Nice has split her 6-1 record at No. 3 doubles between Gianna Pinasco and Emily Hewland.
The dual with the Spartans will start at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Javelina Tennis Courts.
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