Women's Tennis Bounces Back with Pair of Wins Over Ranked Opponents

RICHARDSON, Texas – Bouncing back from a pair of tough losses, the St. Mary's Women's Tennis team took care of business on the court Sunday, defeating #8 Central Oklahoma, 4-3 and Division III #24 UT Dallas, 6-1.
 
"This was a great bounce back day for us," said Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "The girls played with a lot of energy after losing the doubles point to UCO and their aggressiveness paid off. They put together six good singles matches, which kept the momentum in our favor."
 
Both senior Ashley Penshorn (Montgomery, Texas) and junior Elena Munoz (Corregidora, Queretaro, Mexico) won in straight sets to give the Rattlers a 2-1 advantage over the Bronchos in the team score. Penshorn won 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1, while Munoz posted the 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 6.
 
After UCO tied the score at 2-2 with a three-set win at No. 4, senior Angela Vargas (Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico) gave the lead right back to the Rattlers with her 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win at No. 2.
 
Senior Gabi Ioannou (Melbourne, Australia) clinched the team victory at No. 3 with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win.
 
The Rattlers (8-2) had only a short break after the 4-3 win over the Bronchos before beginning play against the Comets. 
 
"I'm glad we had enough energy in the take for UT Dallas as well," Macom continued. "Those were some close matches, and the girls should be proud they finished the trip on a high note." 
 
In the nightcap, the Rattlers took an early lead by winning two of the three doubles matches. Penshorn and junior Kyndall Quiroz (San Antonio) won 6-3 at the top spot, while sophomore Bailey Godwin (San Antonio) and freshman Stela Sifuentes (Eagle Pass, Texas) – playing together for the first time – got a late break of serve to avoid the tiebreaker and win 7-5.
 
Penshorn kept things rolling with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1, while Godwin won at No. 4 in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Vargas clinched the team win with her 6-2, 6-3 success at No. 2.
 
Sifuentes dropped only two games at #6 singles, triumphing 6-1, 6-1 and Munoz pulled out an exciting 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 win at #5 for the 6-1 Rattlers tally. The win for Munoz is her fifth-straight as she improves to 5-0 during the dual season.
 
St. Mary's plays at UTRGV on Friday before heading out on its annual Spring Break Trip. This season, the Rattlers head to Satellite Beach and Lake Nona, Florida for four matches.