SAN ANTONIO – For the second-straight season, the St. Mary's Women's Tennis team has defeated UT Rio Grande Valley, a Division I school – doing so in 2022 by the score of 6-1.
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The Rattlers remained undefeated on the year with the win, improving to 6-0 before embarking on a four-match road trip through Florida for Spring Break.
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Seniors
Maria Garcia (Valencia, Spain) and
Alice Thane (Elloughton, East Yorkshire, England) got things started with a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles. After UTRGV won the match at #2, senior
Marina Vigil (Gijon, Spain) and sophomore
Gabi Ioannou (Melbourne, Australia) won a thrilling tiebreaker at No. 3, 7-6 (7-5) to give the Rattlers the first point of the afternoon.
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Vigil carried the momentum over into singles, winning 6-2, 6-3 at number three, while junior
Angela Vargas (Del Rio, Texas) watched her teammates get the first point and jumped on board with a 6-0, 6-3 sweep at No. 5.
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Senior
Ashley Penshorn (Montgomery, Texas) put the doubles setback behind her quickly, winning 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles. Garcia dropped a hard-fought third-set tiebreaker, 7-5, 1-6, 3-10 for the lone loss at No. 1.
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Sophomore
Elena Munoz (Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico) buckled down to win the final two sets and the match, 3-6, 6-2, 10-7 and the day concluded with Thane winning the first set in a 7-3 tiebreak and the second set 6-4 for the 6-1 team victory.
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The Spring Break trip begins on Tuesday, Mar. 15 against #19 Indiana U. of Pennsylvania. The Crimson Hawks are 5-3 so far this spring. StMU then faces Embry-Riddle, #4 Nova Southeastern and Florida Southern.
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