EDINBURG, Texas – The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi women's tennis team bounced back today with a 6-1 victory over Texas-Pan American at the Orville Cox Tennis Center. The Islanders (6-2) grinded out the doubles point and cruised through singles play to earn their sixth win of the season.
"Pan-American was tough at home," Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. "The doubles point came down to a tiebreaker. We didn't play our best tennis, but we showed courage and grit, and found a way to win a tough doubles point.
"I thought the energy and spirit to begin the singles was excellent. I think the girls really made a statement with their footwork and energy at the beginning. I thought Celia Rodriguez and Maider Martin were great leaders today, losing a tough doubles point and then showing a lot of heart in singles. That's what great captains do and I'm very proud of them."
In doubles action, the sophomore duo of Judit Vives and Kerry Galhos got back in the win column with an 8-3 win over UTPA's (3-6) Mariana Ranzahuer and Lison Le Biavant in No. 3 doubles. The pair improved their mark to 5-1 this season. UTPA then picked up an 8-4 win in the No. 1 slot after Katia Stavroulaki and Reegan Greenwood topped the junior tandem of Rodriguez and Martin. With the loss, the Islanders' pair moved to 4-3 on the year. The doubles point then came down to the No. 2 spot where the freshman-senior duo of Jelena Dzinic and Chelsea Horan edged out Christel Amsallem and Dominique Esparza, 8-7 (5) in a close battle to clinch the point for the Islanders.
The Islanders kept the momentum rolling as they quickly claimed the win with three straight-set singles wins on courts three, four and one. Dzinic tacked on the Islanders' second point of the day with a 6-0, 6-1 dominating win over Amsallem at No. 3. Martin then cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Ranzahuer in No. 4 singles to win her sixth consecutive match. She now has tallied a 6-1 record in the No. 4 slot. Vives followed suit with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Esparza at No. 1 singles to clinch the match for the Islanders. After dropping her first loss of the season against Missouri, Vives bounced back to improve her mark to 5-1 on the year in the No. 1 spot.
Horan padded the Islanders lead to 5-0 after downing Natacha Minc, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles before Galhos dropped a heartbreaker at No. 5. The sophomore garnered a 6-3 first-set win before falling 6-3 in the second set. In the third, Galhos came up short, 10-6 in the super tiebreaker. She now holds a 4-1 record in the No. 5 slot. Rodriguez wrapped singles competition for the Islanders in the No. 2 spot with a three-set thriller to remain undefeated in singles play. The junior topped Stavroulaki in the first set before falling 4-6 in the second. In the final set, Rodriguez grinded her way to a 10-8 super-tiebreaker win.
Rodriguez has now won 20 of her last 21 matches, dating back to last season. She has also tied Erika Iriarte's career record in third place all-time with 41 wins. This season she has tallied a perfect 5-0 record to improve her career mark to 41-4.
"I thought every girl was very strong in the way they competed and cheered for each other," Moore added. "The way they encouraged and gave each other energy. I'm looking forward to this team improving two percent every week and seeing how good we can be as a team."
The Islanders will return home to host Prairie View A&M along with the men on Tuesday, March 3, at 3 p.m. at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center.
For all the latest on Islanders Tennis, like the team on Facebook (IslandersTennis) and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersTennis).
Tennis Match Results
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi vs. Texas-Pan American
2/26/2015 at Edinburg, Texas
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 6, Texas-Pan American 1
Singles competition
1. Judit Vives (AMCC) def. Dominique Esparza (UTPA) 6-2, 6-3
2. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Katia Stavroulaki (UTPA) 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
3. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Christel Amsallem (UTPA) 6-0, 6-1
4. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Mariana Ranzahuer (UTPA) 6-0, 6-1
5. Reegan Greenwood (UTPA) def. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 3-6, 6-3, 10-6
6. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) def. Natacha Minc (UTPA) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Katia Stavroulaki/Reegan Greenwood (UTPA) def. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) 8-4
2. Jelena Dzinic/Chelsea Horan (AMCC) def. Christel Amsallem/Dominique Esparza (UTPA) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Judit Vives/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Mariana Ranzahuer/Lison Le Biavant (UTPA) 8-3
Match Notes:
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 6-2
Texas-Pan American 3-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,4,1,6,5,2)
