SAN ANTONIO — Sitting through two rain delays before even taking the courts, the No. 39 St. Mary's University Women's Tennis team didn't let Mother Nature distract them from the task at hand, as they swept Western New Mexico 7-0 in the Lone Star Conference opener for the Rattlers.
St. Mary's is now 9-1 on the year and 1-0 in league play, while the Mustangs drop to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in Lone Star action. Despite it being the league opener, the Rattlers celebrated Senior Day after the conclusion of the match, honoring seniors
Paula Garrote (Cartagena, Spain) and
Elisa Rodriguez (Houston).
"The women started off really quickly in the doubles today and that paid off," said Director of Tennis
Bill Macom. "They carried the momentum into the singles and controlled a good portion of their rallies."
Garrote wasn't on the court long, winning with doubles partner
Alessia Terlizzi (Andria, Italy) 6-0 at line three, and she lost only one game in singles, winning 6-0, 6-1 at number four to be the first to finish both matches.
The match, originally slated for 10 a.m., didn't begin until 1:30 p.m. as the courts had to be dried twice after rain came through the area in the late morning.
The other two doubles teams both won by identical scores of 6-2 for the first point of the afternoon.
Junior
Stela Sifuentes (Eagle Pass, Texas) flipped Garrote's scores at number six singles to finish moments later, 6-1, 6-0. Terlizzi and sophomore
Selina Wu (San Gabriel, Calif.) both dropped only one game in each set for the 6-1, 6-1 victories on courts three and one, respectively. Terlizzi clinched the team win for the Gold & Blue, for her second of the season.
Gia Posito (Houston) won 6-3, 6-1 at number five, and
Janel Ospanova (Karaganda, Kazakhstan) won three of her final four games to win 6-2, 6-4 on court two to complete the sweep.
The Rattlers host the annual Alumni Match on Saturday at 11 a.m. before returning to Lone Star Conference play with Sul Ross State on Sunday at 9 a.m.
