MIDLAND, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's tennis team continued it's early-season roll Friday afternoon, knocking off UTEP 6-1 in a neutral site matchup to improve to 5-0 on the season, the best start since 2013.
Two days after besting UTSA, the women stayed perfect on the season in a match that was much closer than the 6-1 score implies. Carrying a reputation as a high-energy, hard-fighting and gritty program, the Islanders showed all that and more Friday in Midland.
DOUBLE DOWN
The Islander men have opened the season without dropping the doubles point in nine straight matches. The women seem out to chase down that number as they secured their fifth consecutive doubles point to open the season thanks to wins on courts No. 1 and 3.
Jelena Dzinic and Judit Vives racked up the win at the top of the card, knocking off Vivienne Kulicke and Duda Santos in 6-4 fashion.
The doubles point would hang in the balance, however, after Islander seniors Celia Rodriguez and Maider Martin could not overcome a slow start, falling 2-6 at No. 2.
The Islanders would secure the doubles victory and a 1-0 lead, though, as the all-French duo of Hortense Boscher and Alexandra Belle improved their doubles record to 4-0. The Islanders claimed a 6-4 win over Matilda Tench and Raven Bennett to clinch the doubles decision.
SINGLES SLUGFEST
In singles play, the Islanders would put the energy and grittiness on display in a host of tight matches.
At No. 1, Hortense Boscher suffered her first loss of the season in singles action. The sophomore fell in identical 3-6 sets as Kulicke claimed UTEP's only point of the day.
From there, the Islanders won on each of the five remaining courts, wrapping up another impressive victory.
Dzinic won in dramatic fashion on court No. 2, rallying all the way back after dropping the first set 3-6. The veteran remained poised, winning a 7-6 (5) second set before taking her match 10-8 in a super tiebreak third.
Playing at No. 3, Vives moved to 4-0 on the season with her 6-0, 6-2 win. Behind her at No. 4 was another dramatic match as Rodriguez bounced back from the doubles loss. The senior needed a tiebreaker in the second, but won the match 6-2, 7-6 (4).
The other half of the double pairing with Rodriguez, Martin also rebounded from the earlier loss to win a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 match. Junior Kerry Galhos rounded out the lineup and produced another solid win at No. 6, emerging victorious, 6-0, 6-3.
MORE FROM MOORE
On his team's effort…
"I was really proud of how hard the girls competed today and the way they constantly encouraged each other. The girls had great energy today and this is something I want to see us duplicate every match. Our energy is something we can control and it makes all the difference."
On another win…
"We beat a good, well-coached team in a match that was much closer than the score shows. The intensity and level of energy the girls brought made huge difference today. I can't say enough about the character of these girls."
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Tennis Match Results
UTEP vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
2/12/2016 at Midland, Texas
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6, UTEP 1
Singles competition:
1. Vivienne Kulicke (UTEP) def. Hortense Boscher (AMCC) 6-3, 6-3
2. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Lois Wagenvoort (UTEP) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-8
3. Judit Vives (AMCC) def. Raven Bennett (UTEP) 6-0, 6-2
4. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Daphne Visscher (UTEP) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Matilda Tench (UTEP) 7-5, 6-3
6. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Maria Paula Medina (UTEP) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition:
1. Jelena Dzinic/Judit Vives (AMCC) def. Lois Wagenvoort/Daphne Visscher (UTEP) 6-4
2. Vivienne Kulicke/Bethan Hayward (UTEP) def. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) 6-2
3. Hortense Boscher/Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Matilda Tench/Raven Bennett (UTEP) 6-4
Match Notes:
UTEP 3-4
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-0
