KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – #27 UT Tyler women's tennis fell to 14-6 overall and 6-1 in LSC play after falling in a tight battle to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday by a score of 4-3.
The Javelinas took the first win of the doubles session in the #1 line, but the pair of
Maria Antonio Ortega and
Paula Castellanos responded with a 6-3 runaway in line #2 to even it up. That set the doubles point down to the #3 line, but Texas A&M-Kingsville delivered a 6-4 win to go up 1-0.
The Patriots would get a walkover win to open up singles, as the Javelinas were unable to field six players. That meant Castellanos picked up a win in the #6 line to make it 1-1.
The Javelinas would answer by taking the lead back with a win in the #4 line, and they tacked on another in the #1 line to make it 3-1 and push the Patriots to the brink.
Carla Rodier in the #5 line stood up in a big spot to keep the Patriots alive, and she answered the bell with a big 7-6, 6-3 straight sets win to bring them within one.
In the #2 line, Gorzny worked her way through a lengthy match. She won her first set 6-4, but fell 2-6 in set number two to force a tiebreaking third set. That set would fall the Javelinas way, giving them the fourth point needed for the win.
Antonio Ortega would add one more win in the #3 line, making it a 4-3 final. After falling 2-6 in the opening set, she ripped off two straight set wins of 7-5 and 6-3 to deliver a comeback win.
#27 UT Tyler will get a quick chance to get back on track as they face off with #25 Angelo State on Saturday afternoon. That match will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday in San Angelo, Texas.
