HOUSTON – The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi women's tennis team dropped a tough loss today to No. 61-ranked BYU, 4-0, in the season opener in Houston. Junior Celia Rodriguez was ahead 6-2, 5-4 in No. 3 singles when the match was clinched while freshman Jelena Dzinic was headed into the second set in a very close match in No. 2 singles.
"We played a very good team today," Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. "I thought we had good energy at the beginning and competed very hard. We have to bounce back with that same energy after we lose a tough doubles point. We have to get all six girls fully committed to play with high energy and to play the right style."
The Cougars (1-0) jumped out to a strong start after securing the doubles point on courts one and two. The pair of Mayci Jones and Toby Miclat topped Rodriguez and Maider Martin, 6-3 in No. 1 doubles. BYU then captured the point after the Islanders' (0-1) duo of senior Chelsea Horan and Dzinic dropped a 6-1 loss to Nicolette Tran and Savannah Ware in No. 2 doubles. In the other doubles match of the day, sophomores Judit Vives and Kerry Galhos were even with Meghan Sheehan-Dizon and Morgan Anderson at 3-3.
BYU carried over its momentum into singles play registering three straight wins to pick up its first victory of the season. Anderson tallied a 6-2, 6-1 win over Galhos in No. 6 singles while Martin fell to Miclat in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5 in No. 4 singles. Martin led the second set 5-3 before Miclat rallied back. The Cougars then clinched the match after Ware defeated Horan, 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 5 slot.
Rodriguez, Dzinic and Vives were all battling strong on the other three singles courts when the match was concluded. Rodriguez was ahead 6-2, 5-4 over Sheehan-Dizon in No. 3 singles, while Dzinic, in her first career match, was heading into the second. The Subotica, Serbia native came up short in the first set, 7-6 (7) in No. 2 singles. Vives, a 2014 First Team All-Southland honoree was tied with Jones at 2-2 in the second set after falling 6-3 in the first set in No. 1 singles.
"This team will be fine," Moore added. "They have great heart and character, and I look forward to our next opportunity to compete."
Both the Islanders men's and women's teams will return to action when they host Maryland Baltimore County on Friday, Jan. 23, for the second straight year at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. This time though the teams will meet for a doubleheader starting at 9 a.m., with the second match slated for 3 p.m.
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Tennis Match Results
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi vs. Brigham Young
1/17/2015 at Houston, Texas
#61 Brigham Young 4, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 0
Singles competition
1. JONES, Mayci (BYU) vs. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
2. TRAN, Nicolette (BYU) vs. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 7-6 (9-7), unfinished
3. SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg. (BYU) vs. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) 2-6, 4-5, unfinished
4. MICLAT, Toby (BYU) def. Maider Martin (AMCC) 6-1, 7-5
5. WARE, Savannah (BYU) def. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) 6-2, 6-2
6. ANDERSON, Morgan (BYU) def. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. JONES, Mayci/MICLAT, Toby (BYU) def. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) 6-3
2. TRAN, Nicolette/WARE, Savannah (BYU) def. Chelsea Horan/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 6-1
3. SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg./ANDERSON, Morgan (BYU) vs. Judit Vives/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 3-3, unfinished
Match Notes:
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 0-1
Brigham Young 1-0; National ranking #61
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (6,4,5)
