SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA women’s tennis team came out on top, 4-1, in a well-matched battle against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday afternoon at the UTSA Tennis Center.
UTSA extended its winning streak to five matches, improving to a 5-0 record on the season. This marks the Roadrunners’ eighth win against the Islanders in the 22-match all-time series history. Snapping its seven-match streak, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi dropped to 7-1 in the 2024 campaign.
The tone was set early in the match during doubles play, exhibiting a lot of back-and-forth action at all three courts. To start things off, the duo of Cassie McLay and Eva Beyebach defeated the Islanders’ Kateryna Rublevska and Valeria Cherfus by 6-4. At the top spot, Fatima Gutierrez and Ekua Youri fought through a tiebreaker with Emma Aucagne and Naomi Noi McKenzie, ultimately coming out victorious by 7-6(4) to win the doubles point.
Singles play proved to be another test of resilience. No. 1 Aleksandra Zlatarova made quick work of her opponent Aucagne, winning the first singles point in two sets of 6-1 and 6-2. The Islanders put a mark on the scoreboard with a win at the sixth spot. Youri then took down Saulevich, 6-2 and 6-1, at the No. 5 spot to put UTSA just one point shy of clinching the battle. The last three courts playing at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 all went to three sets.
Freshman Baccino has shown her grit early in the season, taking her opponents to three sets in four of the five UTSA matches this season. With another challenge ahead of her against Cherfus at the third court, she proved her perseverance once again. The Savona, Italy, native took the first set by 6-2, before dropping the second one by 6-2. With the other courts also battling through a third set, Baccino came through with a victorious 6-2 third set, leading UTSA to a 4-1 triumph over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Doubles Results (UTSA 1, TAMUCC 0)
Order of Finish: 3, 1
1. Fatima Gutierrez/Ekua Youri def. Emma Aucagne/Naomi Moi McKenzie: 7-6(4)
2. Aleksandra Zlatarova/Vittoria Baccino vs. Palina Saulevich/Ana Veroux: 6-6 (UF)
3. Cassie McLay/Eva Beyebach def. Katerina Rublevska/Valeria Cherfus: 6-4
Singles Results (UTSA 3, TAMUCC 1)
Order of Finish: 1, 6, 5, 3
1. Aleksandra Zlatarova def. Emma Aucagne: 6-1, 6-2
2. Fatima Gutierrez vs. Naomi Moi McKenzie: (UF) 6-4, 2-6, 2-5
3. Vittoria Baccino def. Valeria Cherfus: 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
4. Cassie McLay vs. Ana Veroux: 3-6, 6-3, 3-2
5. Ekua Youri def. Palina Saulevich: 6-2, 6-1
6. Kateryna Rublevska def. Milica Milosavljevic: 6-4
Up Next
The Roadrunners travel to Las Vegas next week, facing Kansas City on Feb. 16 and UNLV on Feb. 17 – both at 10 a.m. PT/12 p.m. CT.
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