ARLINGTON, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women's tennis (9-3) team wrapped up regular season play with a convincing 9-0 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana (3-14) at Arlington Tennis Center on Friday.
The Lady Rams, in their first season since 2002, put together a 9-3 record in the regular season under head coach
Angel Martinez. They have been rated second in the region and have received votes in two of the last three NAIA Coaches' Polls.
Texas A&M-Texarkana, a program in just its second season, was no match for the Lady Rams. The Eagles pushed only one singles match to a third set, but
Maggie Brasher topped Whitney Langford 10-2 in that third set in No. 5 singles.
Emily Murchland,
Katy Foster,
Alexa Mentesana,
Ashton Willis, and
Laura Grunden also scored singles points.
In doubles, the Rams dropped only three games in their three wins.
Katy Foster and
Emily Murchland started a new streak (after having a 10-match winning streak snapped in their last outing) with an 8-2 win on the first line. That duo improved to 11-2 on the season.
Laura Grunden teamed with
Emily Rodriguez to breeze to an 8-0 win on the second line. In No. 3 doubles,
Maggie Brasher and
Ashton Willis defeated Kaly Douglas and Haley Lofton 8-1.
The Lady Rams are set to host the NAIA Unaffiliated Group Regional Tournament (A.I.I./RRAC/SAC) at Arlington Tennis Center April 21-23. The winner of that tournament will advance to the NAIA National Championship in Mobile, AL, May 17-21.
Ramblings
- The Rams finished the regular season above .500 in both singles (100-96) and doubles (58-46).
-
Emily Murchland is 11-3 in No. 1 singles and 17-9 overall in singles play.
Katy Foster leads the team in singles wins with a record of 19-10.
- Foster also leads the team in doubles wins at 22-4 overall. She went 13-2 in No. 1 doubles (11-2) when paired with Murchland.
- The Lady Rams have made two appearances in the NAIA National Tournament (1979 and 1998).
Texas Wesleyan 9, Texas A&M-Texarkana 0
Apr 08, 2016 at Arlington, TX (Arlington Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Murchland, Emily (TWU) def. Lynch, Deija (TAMUT) 6-2, 6-0
2. Foster, Katy (TWU) def. Keylon, Natalie (TAMUT) 6-0, 6-0
3. Mentesana, Alexa (TWU) def. Wilbanks, Sarah (TAMUT) 7-5, 6-0
4. Willis, Ashton (TWU) def. Douglas, Kaly (TAMUT) 6-0, 6-0
5. Brasher, Maggie (TWU) def. Langford, Whitney (TAMUT) 6-4, 2-6, 10-2
6. Grunden, Laura (TWU) def. Finley, Ashleigh (TAMUT) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Foster, Katy/Murchland, Emily (TWU) def. Lynch, Deija/Keylon, Natalie (TAMUT) 8-2
2. Grunden, Laura/Rodriguez, Emily (TWU) def. Wilbanks, Sarah/Finley, Ashleigh (TAMUT) 8-0
3. Brasher, Maggie/Willis, Ashton (TWU) def. Douglas, Kaly/Lofton, Haley (TAMUT) 8-1
Match Notes
Texas A&M-Texarkana 3-14; Regional ranking #3
Texas Wesleyan 9-3; Regional ranking #2
