SHERMAN, Tex. – In their home opener, the Austin College Women's Tennis Team honored National Girls and Women in Sports Day in a match against Texas Wesleyan University. The Kangaroos fought valiantly against the Rams, but fell 5-4 in the final.
The 'Roos started out to a 0-3 deficit after doubles, looking competitive at times, but the Rams played excellent defense and executed put-away volleys and overheads at a higher percentage.
Kirsten Weber and Grace Ortiz had a late 6-3 lead, but fell 8-6, unable to counter the change in strategy from the Rams' Line 1 team. The injection of energy came to the Kangaroos after they were backed into a corner.
Ortiz struck first blood with a 6-1 1st set at Line 4, finishing the match in an identical fashion.
Anamariia Kheveli followed with a strong 6-2 1st set, but would drop her 2nd set 6-1 to force a 3rd and final set. Kheveli would win Line 5 for the 'Roos 6-4 in the 3rd, just before Carlye Lide won a 3rd set of her own 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at Line 6.
Anna Sergiovanni would battle to her own 3rd setter at Line 2, dropping the 1st 2-6, but winning the match 6-2, 6-4.
Katie Seibert and Kirsten Weber both battled deep into their 1st sets, but dropped their matches 6-4, 6-1, and the match was awarded to Texas Wesleyan.
"It was a special day out there to play our home opener honoring National Girls and Women in Sports Day," said Head Coach Ryan Dodd. "We didn't perform the way we wanted to in doubles, but anytime you go undefeated in three full third-set single matches that tells you two things: one, the team competed well to keep the match hanging in the balance, and two, we're never out of any match until the last ball bounces twice. I'm proud of our Women."
Austin College returns to the courts on Sunday, February 12th at 2:00pm to face local Division III opponent University of Texas-Dallas at the Elizabeth Russell Tennis Center.
Austin College 4, Texas Wesleyan University 5
Elizabeth Russell Tennis Center
Sherman, TX
2/11/17
Singles Competition
Lola Garcia (TWU) def. Kirsten Weber (AC) 6-4, 6-1
Anna Sergiovanni (AC) def. Katy Foster (TWU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
Emilija Segetilja (TWU) def. Katie Seibert (AC) 6-4, 6-1
Grace Ortiz (AC) def. Ashton Willis (TWU) 6-1, 6-1
Anamariia Kheveli (AC) def. Maggie Brasher (TWU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Carlye Lide (AC) def. Laura Grunden (TWU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Competition
Garcia/Foster (TWU) def. Weber/Ortiz (AC) 8-6
Segetilija/Brasher (TWU) def. Sergiovanni/Seibert (AC) 8-3
Willis/Grunden (TWU) def. Willis/Lide (AC) 8-4
Match Notes
Austin College: 1-1 (0-0)
Texas Wesleyan University: 1-0 (0-0)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1) Singles (4, 3, 5, 6, 1, 2)