Women's Tennis Almost Pulls Off Upset Over UIW in Exhibition

SAN ANTONIO — The atmosphere didn't feel like a preseason exhibition at the Mabry Tennis Center on Friday as the St. Mary's University Women's Tennis Team almost pulled off the upset over Division I Incarnate Word, falling 4-3.
 
The Rattlers, ranked No. 13 in the Division II rankings by the ITA, pushed the Cardinals to the very end and took the early lead with the doubles point.
 
"We played 100% better doubles today compared to our previous match," said Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "It was great to see us use multiple formations and a lot of serve and volley."
 
Sophomore Stela Sifuentes (Eagle Pass, Texas) and junior Callah Preti (Liberty Lake, Wash.) got things started with a 6-3 victory at No. 3 doubles and minutes later, junior Paula Garrote (Cartegena, Spain) and sophomore Alessia Terlizzi (Andria, Italy) won by the identical score at No. 2. The tandem of freshman Selina Wu (San Gabriel, Calif.) and junior transfer Karen Kondo (Tokyo, Japan) completed the sweep with the 6-4 victory at No. 1.
 
The momentum carried over early in singles as Sifuentes made quick work at No. 5 to give the Rattlers a 2-0 lead with her 6-2, 6-2 win. Junior Elisa Rodriguez (Houston) lifted the Rattlers to a 3-0 advantage with her 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 6 spot.
 
"The energy level the girls displayed was the loudest and most positive it has been in the past four years combined, and that almost pulled us through to a team win," Macom said. "It was a fun atmosphere, and we were louder than the home crowd at times."
 
Wu won her first set at the No. 1 spot, 6-4 and was locked in a fierce battle in the third set, before getting broken late to lose 2-6, 5-7 to pull the Cardinals within one, 3-2.
 
Kondo forced tiebreakers in both sets, falling 9-7 and 7-3 in the bonus tennis rounds at number four and at No. 3, Terlizzi also dropped her opening set in a tiebreaker (7-5) and then was broken late for the 7-5 loss in the second set.
 
The Rattlers have limited time to rest as they return to the courts tomorrow for a pair of exhibition matches at Rohrbach Tennis Stadium. They face Cowley County Community College at 9 a.m. and follow with Jacksonville College at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free to both matches.