SHERMAN, TX – The Austin College Women's Tennis Team won their second match in a row this weekend, this time against the Hendrix College Warriors.
Once again, the start time to the 'Roos home match was delayed due to unplayable court conditions, but the efforts of many dedicated players, coaches, and administrators saved what would be a competitive match from being cancelled altogether.
The 'Roos blew the match wide open with a familiar Line 2 doubles win from Cierra White and Anamariia Kheveli. The two played together in the ITA Fall Regionals and the chemistry was evident with an 8-3 first strike against the Warriors.
In a closely contested, back-and-forth battle on the first doubles court, Meghan White and Grace Ortiz got a late break of serve and never looked back, taking the second point for the 'Roos 8-5. Carlye Lide and Katie Barber found themselves down 6-7 with Hendrix serving for the match. But a defensive return strategy combined with a high percentage of net-point execution won them back the break of serve and the final two games for a 9-7 win for the sweep.
Ortiz and Cierra White opened up singles play for the Kangaroos with 6-1 first set wins on courts 2 and 3 respectively. Magan Green dropped her first set 6-2 on Line 6, and Meghan White battled her opponent to 5-4 on serve, but a late break for Hendrix would seal the first set for the Warriors.
While Cierra White would close her match out with a 6-3 second set, Ortiz and Green would find themselves behind 4-0 to start theirs. Both players would level the match at 4-4 and Green would go on to win the last two games to split sets and force a super-tiebreaker for the match.
Hendrix would break Ortiz to go up 5-4 with the opportunity to serve for a third set. But the first-year co-captain would break one more time and hold to go up 6-5. Hendrix held to force a tiebreaker for the second set, but Ortiz got up 4-2 in the breaker, and held on for the 7-5 victory and her second match-clinching victory in as many matches.
Austin College is back in action on the road this weekend vs. UT Tyler and LeTourneau on Saturday, March 21 at 9am and 2pm respectively.
Austin College 5, Hendrix College 1
March 15, 2015
Elizabeth Russell Tennis Center
Sherman, TX
Singles Competition
1. Meghan White (AC) vs. Julia Lefler (HC) 4-6, 2-4 unfinished
2. Grace Ortiz (AC) def. Pratheepa Ravikumar (HC) 6-1, 7-6 (5)
3. Cierra White (AC) def. Lauren Mahaney (HC) 6-1, 6-3
4. Anamariia Kheveli (AC) vs. Sarah Walker (HC) not played
5. Carlye Lide (AC) vs. Laila Zaidi (HC) not played
6. Hannah Smashey (HC) def. Magan Green (AC) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-2)
Doubles Competition
1. Meghan White/ Grace Ortiz (AC) def. Lauren Mahaney/Julia Lefler (HC) 8-5
2. Cierra White/Anamariia Kheveli (AC) def. Pratheepa Ravikumar/Laila Zaidi (HC) 8-3
3. Carlye Lide/Katie Barber (AC) def. Hannah Smashey/Sarah Walker (HC) 9-7
Match Notes
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3) Singles (3, 2, 6)
Austin College: 2-2 (0-1)
Hendrix College: 5-3