ROME, Ga. – It was a solid finish to the fall season for the pair of St. Mary's Women's Tennis players, as seniors
Maria Garcia and
Ashley Penshorn competed at the ITA Cup.
"Ashley and Maria played very well the past few days," said Director of Tennis
Bill Macom. "It was a high level of tennis at this event and I think they came away with a great perspective of what can be worked on before the spring season."
Garcia, from Valencia, Spain won her opening round in a three-set thriller over Indianapolis' Isabelle Dunlap, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. She lost in the quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Mae Canete from Central Oklahoma, 6-0, 6-1. In the semifinals of the North bracket, Garcia ran up another UCO foe, falling 6-4, 6-2 to third-seeded Adel Abidulina.
Penshorn, who hails from Montgomery, Texas, dropped her first match to Central Oklahoma's Christine Canete, 7-5, 6-3, but bounced back to reach the finals of the back draw. After dropping the first set, she buckled down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 over Sofia Ragona. In the semifinals, she dropped only four games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Karolin Kirchtag from Indiana U PA and she and Luisa Hrda from Flagler did not compete in the finals.
The Rattlers now take a break from competition, returning to the courts on Jan. 28 at UTRGV at 1 p.m. in an exhibition match. The first home match of the spring season takes place on Feb. 4 when the Gold & Blue welcome Trinity at 3 p.m.
