February 10, 2016

Islander Women Sweep UTSA

SAN ANTONIO – After 17 days away from the courts, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's tennis team showed little rust in a 4-0 victory at UTSA Wednesday evening.

The Islanders remained perfect on the season, improving to 4-0 with the win over the Roadrunners (3-4).

HOT START

The Islanders jumped out to the early lead by taking the doubles point in Wednesday's match with UTSA. The Islanders' Spaniard pairing of Maider Martin and Celia Rodriguez opened the doubles action by taking the No. 2 draw in 6-4 fashion over UTSA's Nicole Karaklis and Alena Shichkova. The two Islander seniors improved to 3-0 in doubles action on the season.

The Blue and Green would clinch the point on court No. 3 as the all-French team of freshman Alexandra Belle and sophomore Hortense Boscher knocked off Lina Hallgren and Charlene Tiwari by another 6-4 score. Like Martin and Rodriguez, the pairing of Boscher and Belle improved to 3-0 on the young season.

Just seconds after the Islanders clinched the point at No. 3, the top pairing of Jelena Dzinic and Judit Vives fell 4-6 to Jacobea Junger and Rosell Canudas, but the result was moot after the Islanders took the first two doubles matchups.

CLINCHED AT THE BOTTOM

In singles action, the Islanders used the bottom of the order to complete the sweep. Kerry Galhos got the ball rolling at No. 6 as the junior defeated Hallgren 6-1, 6-4, to make it 2-0 Islanders overall.

Galhos was joined by Rodriguez who matched the two-set victory with a 6-3, 6-3, win on court No. 4. From there, the matches tightened as Rodriguez and Galhos were the only players to wrap up their singles match in straight sets.

With battles raging on courts No. 1-3 and 5, the Blue and Green needed just a single win from the final four matches to clinch the victory. The honor would go to Martin, who completed the sweep with a three-set win at No. 5. The senior topped UTSA's Tiwari, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2, sealing the Islanders' first road victory of the season.

WHERE THEY STOOD

Three matches were left unfinished in the 4-0 sweep as Boscher, Dzinic and Vives were locked in battles when the match ended.

• Boscher led 2-1 in the third set after winning the first 7-5 and suffering a 6-0 setback in the second.

• Dzinic led her second set 6-5 after falling 6-0 in the first.

• Vives trailed 1-0 in the third after going 2-6, 6-4 in the first and second.

QUOTING MOORE

On a road win…

"This was a tremendous, high-energy, tough effort from girls. I'm not surprised, this is an extremely high character group and I expect big things from them. These girls have worked very hard and to win 4-0 on the road was a strong effort on their part."

On early success and continued growth…

"We made a lot of good choices today with our energy and effort. This group still has lot to improve on and is capable of playing at an even higher level. We know we have work to do but I love the character of this team and they are very hungry and very focused."

UP NEXT

The Islander women continue on to face UTEP Friday in a neutral site matchup in Midland. The matchup with the Miners marks the first time in over six years the Islanders will face UTEP. The last meeting came on Feb. 4, 2010, a 4-3 victory for the Blue and Green.

Tennis Match ResultsTexas A&M-Corpus Christi vs UTSA

Feb 10, 2016 at San Antonio, Texas(UTSA Tennis Center)

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, UTSA 0

Singles competition

1. M. Rosell Canudas (UTSA) vs. Hortense Boscher (AMCC) 5-7, 6-0, 1-2, unfinished

2. Jacobea Junger (UTSA) vs. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 6-0, 5-6, unfinished

3. Alena Shichkova (UTSA) vs. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished

4. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) 6-3, 6-3

5. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) 6-0, 4-6, 6-2

6. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Jacobea Junger/M. Rosell Canudas (UTSA) def. Jelena Dzinic/Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-4