TYLER, Texas — The No. 44 St. Mary's University Women's Tennis team handed the No. 29 UT Tyler Patriots its first loss in Lone Star Conference play, 4-3, on Thursday afternoon.
The Rattlers and Patriots are now tied at 4-1 in league action, while StMU is 12-2 overall and UTT moves to 13-7.
St. Mary's took charge early, winning the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. Senior
Paula Garrote (Cartagena, Spain) and junior
Alessia Terlizzi (Andria, Italy) clinched the point with their 6-4 win at line three after sophomores
Gia Posito (Houston) and
Selina Wu (San Gabriel, Calif.) evened the score with a 7-5 victory at No. 2.
Garrote and Terlizzi remain undefeated in conference play, moving to 5-0 on the year. The duo has won six straight matches and is 12-2 in duals, including a perfect 9-0 mark at No. 3 doubles.
Junior
Stela Sifuentes (Eagle Pass, Texas) won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6 singles, while Garrote won 6-3, 6-4 on court four to give the Rattlers a 3-0 lead.
The Patriots scored their first point by winning No. 5 singles. However, Terlizzi clinched the win for the Rattlers moments later on court three, winning 7-6 (5), 6-2. It is the third time this season Terlizzi has won the deciding point for the Rattlers, and she is now tied for the season lead with doubles partner Garrote with three each.
UT Tyler won both matches on courts one and two, though both were decided in three sets.
Thursday marks the second time this year the Rattlers have defeated a team higher in the national rankings, joining the March 14 win over then-#24 Ferris State. St. Mary's will get a chance at a third win over a higher-ranked team as they play at No. 24 DBU on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Patriots play at UT Tyler on Friday before hosting the Rattlers.
