Women's Tennis Shows Toughness Against DI Foes

SAN MARCOS, Texas — As the only Division II team competing in the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Texas State University, the St. Mary's University Women's Tennis team competed hard and wrapped up the fall season on a positive note.

"This was a very high-level tournament," said Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "Everyone competed well. These five right now have established themselves as starters in the lineup. We need them to challenge the rest of the team in order for us to reach the conference tournament and nationals."

In singles, sophomore Janel Ospanova (Karaganda, Kazakhstan) carried over her momentum from the UIW Fall Tournament, posting a 1-1 record. She received a bye in the first round and bounced back after losing in the second round to defeat Smilia Matovic from UIW 7-5, 3-6, 10-5 in the final round. Junior Alessia Terlizzi (Andria, Italy) won her third-round match, taking down Louisiana-Monroe's Mariia Iordanova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

In doubles play, both teams went 1-2, winning in the second round. The pair of senior Karen Kondo (Tokyo, Japan) and sophomore Selina Wu (San Gabriel, Calif.) defeated Maria Guirguis and Valeriia Avdeeva from Troy, 6-2. In the other two matches, the team lost by one break of serve, 6-4. The duo of senior Paula Garrote (Cartagena, Spain) and Terlizzi beat Iordanova and Vanjo Cado from ULM with a 6-4 score.

The tournament concludes the fall season for the Rattlers. The spring competition begins on Jan. 26 as the team heads across the city to face UTSA in an exhibition. 

SINGLES
Paula Garrote (0-3)
Rd 1: lost to Lucia Fernandez (ULM), 4-6, 3-6
Rd 2: lost to Valeriia Avdeeva (TROY), 2-6, 1-6
Rd 3: lost to Emily Niers (TxSt), 1-6, 6-3, [4-10]

Karen Kondo (0-3)
Rd 1: lost to Tadiwa Mauchi (TxSt), 5-7, 6-3, [14-16]
Rd 2: lost to Camila Molina (ULM), 3-6, 7-6 (5), [5-10]
Rd 2: lost to Maria Guirguis (TROY), 3-6, 2-6

Janel Ospanova (1-1)
Rd 1: Received a bye
Rd 2: lost to Ireland Simme (TxSt), 4-6, 2-6
Rd 3: def. Smilia Matovic (UIW), 7-5, 3-6, [10-5]

Alessia Terlizzi (1-2)
Rd 1: lost to Hagar Amin Ramadan (Troy), 1-6, 2-6
Rd 2: lost to Callie Creath (TxSt), 3-6, 2-6
Rd 3: def. Mariia Iordanova (ULM), 6-3, 6-2

Selina Wu (0-3)
Rd 1: lost to Gabrielle Leslie (Troy), 3-6, 4-6
Rd 2: lost to Kiana Graham (TxSt), 2-6, 0-6
Rd 3: lost to Vanja Cado (ULM), 2-6, 4-6
DOUBLES
Terlizzi/Garrote (1-2)
Rd 1: lost to Emily Niers/Callie Creath (TxSt), 4-6
Rd 2: def. Mariia Iordanova/Vanja Cado (ULM), 6-4
Rd 3: lost to Kiana Graham/Tadiwanashe Mauchi (TxSt), 3-6

Wu/Kondo (1-2)
Rd 1: lost to Sofia Foruno/Ireland Simme (TxSt), 4-6
Rd 2: def. Maria Guirguis/Valeriia Avdeeva (TROY), 6-2
Rd 3: lost to Camila Molina/Lucia Fernandez (ULM), 4-6