Lady Tiger tennis team opens season against DI Tarleton State University

The scores do not reflect it, but the Cowley College women's tennis team battled hard in its season opener at NCAA Division I Tarleton State University Saturday in Stephenville, TX. The Lady Tigers had four singles matches go to a third set but could not come away with wins in the 7-0 loss to the Texans.

Cowley was also close in its three doubles matches, as they won a combined 15 games.

"I was very proud of the team's effort playing on the road against a top NCAA Division I team in our season opener," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "We had a lot of chances to win the doubles point but couldn't convert those, and if we want to beat the top teams, we have to be able to take chances when they are there. The singles matches were extremely close, too, with four matches going to the third set and Arina at No. 1 singles losing two razor-thin sets 6-7, 6-7."

Cowley will look to build off its season opener when they return to the court Sunday, February 12, at 2 p.m. at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

"There are a couple of things to take away and improve from in our first match, but overall, the girls competed very well against probably the toughest team we will play this season," Raga said.

Results:

DOUBLES 

*No. 1 - Isid Hernandez & Alexandra Melnikova (Cowley) lost to Martha Makantasi & Elsa Boisson (Tarleton) 4-6. 

*No. 2 - Ntokozo Zungu & Arina Babenko (Cowley) lost to Emma Persson & Celia Vaudiau (Tarleton) 5-7.

*No. 3 - Camila Neyra & Mariia Koroleva (Cowley) lost to Ximena Morales & Laure Razet (Tarleton) 3-6. 

SINGLES

*No. 1 - Arina Babenko (Cowley) lost to Martha Makantasi (Tarleton) 6-7(0), 6-7(2).

*No. 2 - Isid Hernandez (Cowley) lost to Emma Persson (Tarleton) 6-4, 2-6, 1-6.

*No. 3 - Alexandra Melnikova (Cowley) lost to Elsa Boisson (Tarleton) 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 2-6. 

*No. 4 - Mariia Koroleva (Cowley) lost to Celia Vaudiau (Tarleton) 4-6, 0-6.

*No. 5 - Ntokozo Zungu (Cowley) lost to Ximena Morales (Tarleton) 2-6, 7-6(2), 4-6.

*No. 6 - Camila Neyra (Cowley) lost to Clara Sobius (Tarleton) 7-6(5), 2-6, 4-6.