Islanders Fall in 4-3 Nail-Biter to UCA

TYLER, Texas – A closely contested match just didn't end in favor of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's tennis program as Central Arkansas finished on top 4-3 on a neutral court Thursday at Faulkner Park Tennis Center.
 
In doubles, it came down to the No. 3 spot where the Islanders (15-2, 5-1 SLC) led 5-3 but just couldn't close it out. The Sugar Bears (11-10, 6-2 SLC) came back to grab the set 7-6 and the doubles point.
 
Freshmen Emma Aucagne and Emma Honore won at No. 2 doubles 6-4.
 
In singles, the deciding match was at the No. 6 position where A&M-Corpus Christi had triple match point at 5-4, 40-15 in the third set but UCA rallied to complete a stunning comeback.
 
"This was a heartbreaking loss today with match points, but our girls have huge hearts and great character and we will bounce back. I promise you we will bounce back," said head coach Steve Moore. "Not because of my rhetoric, but because of the work ethic and character of these girls. We believe in them big time and we will keep fighting and bounce back."
 
Sophomore Mariya Shumeika remained undefeated in singles. She's now a perfect 16-0 mark on the year after posting a come-from-behind 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 victory at the No. 1 spot.
 
Aucagne went 2-0 on the day after submitting a straight-set win at No. 4 singles. She defeated Jaeun Lee 6-4, 7-5.
 
At No. 5 singles, freshman Leopoldine Boisseau ousted Maja Gledic 6-1, 7-6. Boisseau and Aucagne have both won eight consecutive singles matches.
 
The Islanders are now 14-3 all-time against the Sugar Bears.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi will return home Saturday for a 12 p.m. match against Lamar at the Henry Tennis Center. The Islanders are 10-9 all-time against the Cardinals and have won seven of the last eight.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi Tennis
- 11 NCAA Tournaments
- 25 SLC Championships
- 4 Top-40 National Rankings
- 3.0 GPA 31 Straight Semesters
- Islanders have received a No. 3 seed at the NCAA Tournament three times
- Women's tennis has cracked the ITA top-75 national rankings three times
- Men's tennis has cracked the ITA national rankings 10 consecutive years
- Ranked nationally in NCAA DI as high as No. 35 for the men and No. 60 for the women
 
Central Arkansas 4, A&M-Corpus Christi 3
Doubles Competition
1. Chunxi Xin/Fuka Nonoyama (UCA) def. Camille Townsend/Mariya Shumeika (AMCC) 6-3
2. Emma Aucagne/Emma Honore (AMCC) def. Yada Vasupongchai/Sumomo Hamanaga (UCA) 6-4
3. Maja Gledic/Jaeun Lee (UCA) def. Leopoldine Boisseau/Victoire Delattre (AMCC) 7-6
 
Singles Competition
1. Mariya Shumeika (AMCC) def. Chunxi Xin (UCA) 3-6, 7-6, 7-6
2. Fuka Nonoyama (UCA) def. Camille Townsend (AMCC) 6-1, 6-2
3. Yada Vasupongchai (UCA) def. Emma Honore (AMCC) 7-6, 6-4
4. Emma Aucagne (AMCC) def. Jaeun Lee (UCA) 6-4, 7-5
5. Leopoldine Boisseau (AMCC) def. Maja Gledic (UCA) 6-1, 7-6
6. Sumomo Hamanaga (UCA) def. Victoire Delattre (AMCC) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
 
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