BELTON, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders and the Austin College Kangaroos squared off to cap an exiting day in women's tennis.
The 'Roos were fired up following their closely contested loss to Southwestern earlier in the day match and took quick leads on 2 of 3 doubles courts against the Crusaders.
Carlye Lide and Kate Willis were able to win a decisive 8-3 match on court 2, while Grace Ortiz and Meghan White were unable to keep a grip on two breaks of serve, falling 8-5. Doubles play concluded with AC down 2-1.
As singles play began, a confidence swept over the 'Roos as they took first sets on courts 1, 2, 4, and 5. However, the matches would not finish as the Kangaroos would have hoped. AC would split sets on 4 of 6 singles courts and a multitude of tiebreakers would decide the match.
Kate Willis took line 2 in an 11-9 super-tiebreaker for the third set to tie the match. Carlye Lide would drop her second set 7-2 in a tiebreaker, but go on to win the match-clinching 3rd set 10-4 for the 3-2 match lead. Magan Green would fall 6-4 in the 3rd set, and Meghan White, battling exhaustion and injury, would fall 10-5 in her final set. The 'Roos found themselves facing elimination only moments after turning the match in their favor.
The final two matches were moved under the lights as darkness fell over UMHB's Li Tennis Courts. Anamariia Kheveli cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory, placing Grace Ortiz in the situation every competitor dreams of playing; last match on, under the lights.
The ice water in Ortiz's veins would prove colder than the evening temperature as the Freshman captain never broke stride in the pressure situation. The 6-4, 6-3 win solidified the 'Roos first win in their 2014-15 campaign and Coach Dodd's first of his Head Coaching Career.
Austin College is back in action at home vs. University of the Southwest (NM) on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 12:00pm.
Austin College 5, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 4
March 7, 2015
Belton, TX
UMHB Li Tennis Courts
Singles
1. Hannah Warren (UMHB) def. Meghan White (AC) 3-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-5)
2. Kate Willis (AC) def. Angelie Juaneza (UMHB) 6-0, 1-6, 1-0 (11-9)
3. Grace Ortiz (AC) def. Lizzie Ostrott (UMHB) 6-4, 6-3
4. Anamariia Kheveli (AC) def. Haley Hicks (UMHB) 6-1, 6-1
5. Carlye Lide (AC) def. Paola Nunez (UMHB) 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 1-0 (10-4)
6. Sarah Sedory (UMHB) def. Magan Green (AC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles
1. Juaneza/Hicks (UMHB) def. M. White/Ortiz 8-5
2. Lide/Willis (AC) def. Nunez/Warren (UMHB) 8-3
3. Ostrott/Sedory (UMHB) def. Barber/Green (AC) 8-1
Match Notes
Austin College: 1-2 (0-1)
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: 2-3 (0-0)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1) Singles (2, 1, 5, 6, 4, 3)