CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's tennis team dropped the doubles point and three straight-set singles matches tonight to fall, 4-1, to McNeese State (8-5, 4-1 SLC) at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. Junior Maider Martin clinched her fourth straight match at No. 4 singles to give the Islanders (8-7, 2-3 SLC) their lone point.
"Give credit to McNeese State tonight, they played a great match," Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. "This was the same team that battled us in the semifinals last year in the Southland Tournament and we certainty have a lot of respect for their team.
"Right now there are a few girls on the team that care so much that they are just over-trying and not competing free enough. That's our job as coaches to push the right buttons to get them over the hump, and I'm confident we will."
In doubles play, the sophomore pair of Judit Vives and Kerry Galhos topped Sarah Jurakova and Vivien Borbely, 8-3 at No. 3 doubles for their seventh win of the season. However, the Cowgirls answered back with wins on courts one and two to secure the point. Julia Kral and Hannah Brett defeated the freshman-senior duo of Jelena Dzinic and Chelsea Horan, 8-4, at No. 2, before Martin and Celia Rodriguez, fell short to Klaudia Gawlik and Anastasija Trubich, 8-6, at No. 1 doubles.
The Islanders quickly answered back in singles play as Martin breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Borbely at No. 4 singles for her fourth straight win. The junior has now recorded an 11-3 mark in the No. 4 slot and holds a 4-1 mark in the Southland. The Cowgirls then responded with three straight singles wins to clinch the match. Vives dropped a straight-set loss to Gawlik, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles before Galhos fell 6-3, 6-3, to Jurakova at No. 5 singles. McNeese then secured the match after Dzinic fell to Kral in straight sets. The freshman lost a tough 7-6 (6) first-set tiebreaker before dropping a 6-0 second-set loss.
"I'm still very excited and optimistic for the remaining of this season," Moore added. "The last time I checked no one has ever collected for how their horse places halfway through the race, it's the end that matters and I have a lot of faith in this group."
The Islanders will remain at home to host Nicholls at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. The Colonels defeated Texas-Pan American tonight, 6-1, and will face Incarnate Word on Saturday before facing the Islanders. Nicholls currently holds a 12-3 record, including a perfect 5-0 Southland record.
For all the latest on Islanders Tennis, like the team on Facebook (IslandersTennis) and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersTennis). Fans can also receive updates on both teams by downloading the Islanders Front Row App at GoIslanders.com/frontrow.
Tennis Match Results
McNeese vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
3/27/2015 at Corpus Christi, Texas
McNeese 4, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 1
Singles competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-0
3. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) vs. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-7 (4-7), 5-3, unfinished
4. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-1, 6-1
5. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) vs. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 5-7, 4-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Maider Martin/Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) 8-6
2. Julia Kral/Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Chelsea Horan/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 8-4
3. Judit Vives/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Sarah Jurakova/Vivien Borbely (MCN) 8-3
Match Notes:
McNeese 8-5, 4-1 SLC
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 8-7, 2-3 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,5,2)
