Women's Tennis Clips Falcon Wings in Shutout Victory

SAN ANTONIO – The 21st-ranked St. Mary's Women's Tennis team took care of business in its next-to-last regular season contest of the year, sweeping UT Permian Basin 7-0 at the Rohrbach Tennis Stadium on Friday evening.
 
Five of the six singles matches were decided in straight sets for the Rattlers (19-4, 7-2 Lone Star), while junior Elena Munoz (Corregidora, Queretaro, Mexico) fought off two match points in the third-set tiebreaker to come back and win 12-10
 
The first and third doubles teams also posted lopsided wins, while the new pairing of senior Angela Vargas (Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico) and Alessia Terlizzi (Andria, Italy) won a thriller in tiebreak fashion, 7-6 (5) for the sweep. Terlizzi and Vargas played together during one tournament in the fall but hadn't been paired together since until earlier this week.
 
"I'm very proud of the girls today, closing out a sweep," said Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "A few players really needed a confidence builder heading into the postseason. Alessia stepped it up in doubles. Ashley (Penshorn) and Kyndall (Quiroz) were overdue for quick second sets. And Elena needed to stay aggressive to the very last point and it all clicked for them!"
 
Penshorn (Montgomery, Texas) dropped only one game at No. 1 singles, winning 6-0, 6-1, while Vargas won by identical set scores of 6-2, 6-2 for her tenth consecutive win. Quiroz (San Antonio) also dropped only four games in her 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4 and senior Gabi Ioannou (Melbourne, Australia) fought to a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 5. Freshman Stela Sifuentes (Eagle Pass, Texas) won in convincing 6-3, 6-0 fashion at No. 6.
 
The Rattlers host Western New Mexico on Saturday for Senior Day to close out the regular season. Match time will be at approximately Noon and the senior celebrations will take place between the men's and women's matches on Court One.