SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA women’s tennis team extended its winning streak to five and stayed unbeaten at the UTSA Tennis Center this year with a 5-2 victory over New Mexico State on Sunday.
The Roadrunners ran their record to 15-6 on the season, including a perfect 8-0 mark at home, with their eighth victory over the Aggies (5-12) in 10 all-time meetings.
UTSA also surpassed its win total from last year with today’s decision, marking the program’s most victories since a 16-8 campaign in 2009.
In doubles, Cassie McLay and Aleksandra Zlatarova teamed up for a quick 6-0 blanking of Dora Kurdi and Anna Pinaieva on court one. That marked the duo’s sixth consecutive win and it improved their season record to 12-1, all coming at the No. 1 position.
NM State’s tandem of Whitney Moon and Lisa Zhu scored a 6-4 decision over Vittoria Baccino and Magda Tuells at No. 3, putting all eyes on court two where UTSA’s Fatima Gutierrez and Ekua Youri were locked in a tight battle with Valeriia Ivanovskaia and Natsuki Nishimura. The Roadrunners rallied from an early deficit and pulled out a 6-4 triumph that clinched the 1-0 lead for the home team and ran their doubles ledger to 8-3 on the year.
UTSA took a 2-0 lead early in the singles competition, as Youri blanked Ivanovskaia, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 5. The freshman from Botswana now boasts a 12-4 singles mark in her debut campaign.
Vittoria Baccino then pulled the Roadrunners to within one of securing the win with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph on court four.
Gutierrez sealed the deal for UTSA at the top of the lineup, defeating Nishimura, 6-2, 6-4, for her 10th win of the year.
NM State picked up a pair of points, as Moon eked out a three-set decision over Tuells at No. 6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, while Pinaieva outlasted Zlatarova, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, at No. 2 to make it 5-2 in favor of the Roadrunners.
McLay rallied for a win at the third spot in the lineup, coming back from a 6-2 decision in set one with a 7-5 victory in the second set before e
The Roadrunners will conclude the regular season slate against Lamar at noon on Wednesday, April 10. Four student-athletes will be celebrated for Senior Day, including Eva Beyebach, Cassie McLay, Magda Tuells and Aleksandra Zlatarova.
UTSA 5, New Mexico State 2
April 7, 2024
UTSA Tennis Center
San Antonio, Texas
Singles
1. Fatima Gutierrez (UTSA) def. Natsuki Nishimura (NMSU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Anna Pinaieva (NMSU) def. Aleksandra Zlatarova (UTSA) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
3. Cassie McLay (UTSA) def. Lisa Zhu (NMSU) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
4. Vittoria Baccino (UTSA) def. Dora Kurdi (NMSU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Ekua Youri (UTSA) def. Valeriia Ivanovskaia (NMSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Whitney Moon (NMSU) def. Magda Tuells (UTSA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
Doubles
1. Cassie McLay/Aleksandra Zlatarova (UTSA) def. Dora Kurdi/Anna Pinaieva (NMSU) 6-0
2. Fatima Gutierrez/Ekua Youri (UTSA) def. Valeriia Ivanovskaia/Natsuki Nishimura (NMSU) 6-4
3. Whitney Moon/Lisa Zhu (NMSU) def. Vittoria Baccino/Magda Tuells (UTSA) 6-4
Records: UTSA 15-6; New Mexico State 5-12
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,4,1,6,2,3)
Time-3:10
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