CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 nail-biter today in a five-hour match against SEC member Missouri at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. After the Tigers built a 3-1 lead, the Islanders (5-2) grinded their way back to knot the match at 3-3. The match came down to a three-set battle at No. 2 where the Tigers (8-4) clinched the match.
"That was one of the best college tennis matches I have been a part of in a long time," Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. "In my mind, we did not lose today. Missouri rose up and won. I have big respect for Missouri and their team. They deserve a lot of credit and they played amazing in the pivotal moments in the third. I can't tell you how proud I am of the effort and courage our girls showed today.
"Jelena Dzinic competed like a warrior. If Missouri's girl had not hit amazing shots on the line in the biggest points we would have won that match. I'm so excited about what the future holds for these girls this year because of the heart and courage they showed today against a very talented SEC team."
Missouri garnered an early 1-0 lead after an intense round of doubles action. The Islanders clinched a thrilling win at No. 1 doubles after the junior duo of Celia Rodriguez and Maider Martin edged Cassidy Spearman and Brianna Lashway, 8-7 (8) in a thrilling tiebreaker. The Islanders duo were down 6-3 and rallied back to win four straight games to capture a 7-6 lead. The Tigers sealed the next game to force the tiebreaker. Missouri built a 4-0 lead before the Islanders battled back once again to knot things at 4-4. After three more ties the Islanders clinched the match at 10-8. Martin and Rodriguez improve to 4-2 in the No. 1 slot.
In No. 2 doubles, the freshman-senior duo of Dzinic and Chelsea Horan dropped a close 8-5 loss to Madison Rhyner and Kelli Hine to even doubles at 1-1. With the doubles point on the line, the sophomore tandem of Judit Vives and Kerry Galhos also battled back against Bea Machado Santos and Brittany Lashway. After falling behind 6-3, the Islanders' pair captured back-to-back games to pull within one. After trading games, Missouri clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 victory. Galhos and Vives move to 4-1 on the year in the No. 3 spot.
"Thrilling doubles point, both teams battling, that's what college tennis is all about," Moore said. "Awesome crowd and awesome environment. Give credit to Missouri, they hung tough and very tough in the wind. I really like the way our girls our fighting and thinking."
The Tigers padded their lead to 2-0 after Brittany Lashway topped Horan 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles. Martin then put the Islanders on the board with a three-set victory at No. 4. The junior topped Brianna Lashway 6-2 in the first set, before falling 6-1 in the second set. In the third, Martin powered her way to a 6-3 win. Missouri then padded its lead to 3-1 after a straight-set win at No. 1. Vives dropped a tough 7-6 (2) first-set tiebreaker loss to Hine before falling 6-4 in the second set.
The final three courts came down to three-set battles as Rodriguez and Galhos each secured their matches. Rodriguez edged Santos in the first set 7-5 at No. 3 singles before falling 6-2 in the second set. In the third, the junior posted a 6-2 win for the Islanders' second point of the day. Rodriguez has now won 19 of her last 20 matches, dating back to last season. She is also just one singles win away from tying Erika Iriarte's career record in third place with 41 wins. This season she has tallied a perfect 4-0 record at No. 3 singles.
Galhos then followed with a three-set win over Alex Clark at No. 5 singles. The sophomore also squeezed out a 7-5 first-set win before falling 6-4 in the second set. In the third, Galhos breezed to a 6-0 win to knot the match at 3-3 and improve her mark to 4-0 at the No. 5 spot.
The match then came down to No. 2 singles where Dzinic battled Spearman. The freshman lost the first set 6-3 before battling back to win a 7-6 (3) second-set tiebreaker. In the third, Dzinic fell 6-3 in an intense battle as Missouri captured the match.
The women's team will now trek to Edinburg, Texas, to face the Broncs on Feb. 26, for the second time this season. Doubles play is set for 1:30 p.m.
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Tennis Match Results
2015 Mizzou Tennis vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
2/21/2015 at Corpus Christi, Texas
2015 Mizzou Tennis 4, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 3
Singles competition
1. Kelli Hine (MU) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
2. Cassidy Spearman (MU) def. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3
3. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Bea Machado Santos (MU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
4. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Brianna Lashway (MU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
5. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Alex Clark (MU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
6. Brittany Lashway (MU) def. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Cassidy Spearman/Brianna Lashway (MU) 8-7 (10-8)
2. Madison Rhyner/Kelli Hine (MU) def. Chelsea Horan/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 8-5
3. Bea Machado Santos/Brittany Lashway (MU) def. Judit Vives/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 8-6
Match Notes:
2015 Mizzou Tennis 8-4
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 5-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,1,3,5,2)
