CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's tennis team garnered a tough doubles point and three straight-set singles matches to top UTSA 4-0 today at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. It marked the Islanders (5-1) fifth consecutive victory of the season.
"We just won an incredible tough battle against a very tough team," Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. "This match was way closer than the score and every girl was in a 50/50 match and had to battle. Doubles came down to two tiebreakers.
"I'm incredibly proud of how every girl fought collectively. Chelsea Horan and Jelena Dzinic showed incredible poise and courage losing a heartbreaking doubles and then coming out with grit and tenacity, staying in the present and taking care of business in singles. We are very proud of how hard these girls competed today."
The Islanders secured a tight doubles point that came down to No. 3 doubles. The junior duo of Maider Martin and Celia Rodriguez quickly swept UTSA's (3-3) Jacobea Junger and Alena Shichkova, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles, but UTSA battled back to even things at 1-1 after capturing a close 7-6 (7) win at No. 2. The freshman-senior pair of Dzinic and Horan were leading 5-2 over Miriam Rosell Canudas and Daniela Garcia-Diaz, but a late rally forced a tiebreaker at 6-6. In the tiebreaker, UTSA won 9-7 after four ties. With the doubles point on the line, sophomores Kerry Galhos and Judit Vives grinded back at 5-3 at No. 3 doubles to even things at 6-6 and force the second tiebreaker of the day. The Islanders' tandem kept their perfect streak alive with a 7-3 tiebreaking win over Lina Hallgren and Nicole Karaklis to improve to 4-0 on the year.
The Islanders carried over their momentum into singles play, winning three straight matches to clinch the match. Dzinic won her fourth singles match at No. 2 after breezing to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Shichkova. Galhos followed suit with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Hallgren at No. 5 to win her third straight match in the No. 5 slot. The Islanders then clinched the match after Horan posted a 7-6 (4), 6-2 win at No. 6 over Irene Gandara Gonzalez. The senior was down 4-1 in the first and battled her way back to force a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, she was in full control building an early 5-2 lead before winning 7-4. In the second set, Horan jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before winning 6-2 to secure the match.
The final three singles matches were in the middle of their third sets when the match was determined.
The Islanders will remain at home to host SEC member Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. The match was originally scheduled for a neutral-site in Houston but rain in the forecast has moved it to the Coastal Bend.
For all the latest on Islanders Tennis, like the team on Facebook (IslandersTennis) and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersTennis).
Tennis Match Results
UTSA vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
2/18/2015 at Corpus Christi, Texas
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 4, UTSA 0
Singles competition
1. Judit Vives (AMCC) vs. Jacobea Junger (UTSA) 6-3, 1-6, 3-1, unfinished
2. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-3, 6-2
3. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) vs. M. Rosell Canudas (UTSA) 7-5, 1-6, 0-1, unfinished
4. Maider Martin (AMCC) vs. Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) 3-6, 6-3, 2-1, unfinished
5. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 6-2, 6-4
6. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) def. I. Gandara Gonzalez (UTSA) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Maider Martin/Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Jacobea Junger/Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-0
2. M. Rosell Canudas/Daniela Garcia-Diaz (UTSA) def. Chelsea Horan/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 7-6 (9-7)
3. Judit Vives/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Lina Hallgren/Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) 7-6 (7-3)
Match Notes:
UTSA 3-3
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 5-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,5,6)
