SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Getting the start they needed in the 2024 SLC Conference Tournament, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's tennis team settled into their first match and came out on top with a clean 4-0 victory over No. 9 Bryant Friday morning at the McFarlin Tennis Center.
It advances the top-seeded Islanders (21-2) to the tournament semifinals, set for Saturday at 10 a.m. against No. 5 UIW. The winner will move on to the championship match Sunday at 10 a.m. It is the fourth straight year the Islanders advance to the semifinals.
"This match was all about character and it's always all about character because nothing ever comes easy in the conference tournament! Bryant is a very good team that fought with a lot of heart, but our girls really dug in and showed a lot of toughness, just like they have all season! The key is to start simple and with great energy, and they know that! I love the character and toughness of these Islanders! Go Islanders!" said SLC Coach of the Year
Steve Moore.
Sophomore
Palina Saulevich and freshman
Ana Veroux got things started with a processed 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles. After loosening up, seniors
Emma Aucagne and
Naomi Moi McKenzie secured the doubles point with a 7-5 decision at No. 1 doubles.
Senior
Valeria Cherfus then raced out to a pair of 6-1 sets for the win at No. 4 singles, as she moves to 18-0 all-time over conference opponents. Aucagne, the SLC Player of the Year, proved worthy of the title after she dug down for a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles to get the Islanders to a 3-0 lead in the match.
From there, it was a race to see who would finish first as senior
Kateryna Rublevska and freshman
Ana Veroux were both on the verge of clinching at courts six and three, respectively. However, it was the senior whose experience shined as Rublevska closed out the 6-4, 6-2 victory from the No. 6 spot to clinch the match.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs as affiliate-member Bryant doesn't compete in the regular season, giving the Islanders the 1-0 edge in the head-to-head record.
The women also improve to 23-8 in SLC Tournament matches under Moore. The Islanders are 10-2 in first-round matches since 2012. Looking ahead to Saturday, the Islanders are 7-2 all-time in SLC semifinal matches.
Match Results -No. 1 A&M-Corpus Christi 4, No. 9 Bryant 0
Doubles competition (2, 1)
1.
Emma Aucagne/
Naomi Moi McKenzie (AMCC) def. Caitlyn Munson/Natalia Vela (BRY) 7-5
2.
Palina Saulevich/
Ana Veroux (AMCC) def. Mari Jose Hernandez Diaz/Yahli Noy (BRY) 6-3
3.
Valeria Cherfus/
Kateryna Rublevska (AMCC) vs. Lisa Marie Dugec/Aurora Padwell (BRY) 5-5, unfinished
Singles competition (4, 1, 6)
1.
Emma Aucagne (AMCC) def. Natalia Vela (BRY) 6-3, 6-1
2.
Naomi Moi McKenzie (AMCC) vs. Yahli Noy (BRY) 7-5, 1-2, unfinished
3.
Ana Veroux (AMCC) vs. Aurora Padwell (BRY) 6-3, 5-1, unfinished
4.
Valeria Cherfus (AMCC) def. Mari Jose Hernandez Diaz (BRY) 6-1, 6-1
5.
Palina Saulevich (AMCC) vs. Caitlyn Munson (BRY) 7-6 (7-4), 2-1, unfinished
6.
Kateryna Rublevska (AMCC) def. Olivia Rondini (BRY) 6-4, 6-2
A&M-Corpus Christi Tennis
- 16 NCAA Tournaments
- 34 SLC Championships
- 4 Top-40 National Rankings
- 3.0 GPA 41 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
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