Lady Tiger tennis team defeats No. 11-ranked Washburn in opener

The Cowley College women's tennis team opened defense of its NJCAA Division I national championship with an impressive 5-2 victory at Washburn University on Saturday in Topeka, KS. The Lady Ichabods are ranked No. 11 in the NCAA Division II poll.

On Saturday, Cowley dropped all three doubles matches before winning five of six singles matches.

"I think the ladies did really good despite coming out a little bit nervous in doubles," Cowley head coach Marcel Miasato said. "It was great to see us come back and win 5-2."

Four of Cowley's five victories in singles play went three sets. Sophomore Serena Pereyra and freshman Cynthia Wanjala rallied from first-set defeats to win in three.

"Cynthia had a great match," Miasato said. "She picked up her play in the second set and never let up."

The Lady Tigers will return to action on Saturday when they play at the University of Texas-Arlington at 10 a.m.

"We have to keep pushing in advance of another tough match this weekend," Miasato said.

Results:

DOUBLES

*No. 1 – Akari Tomoyose/Chiho Takada (CC) lost to Daniela Tijaro/Renske Ubachs (WU) 3-6.

*No. 2 – Serena Pereyra/Cynthia Wanjala (CC) lost to Peyton Koper/Leo Floeth (WU) 3-6.

*No. 3 – Sofia Karlau/Naghely Garcia Galian (CC) lost to Issabella Martensson/Saajida Razick (WU) 1-6.

SINGLES

*No. 1 – Pereyra (CC) defeated Ubachs (WU) 5-7, 7-5, 10-7.

*No. 2 – Tomoyose (CC) defeated Floeth (WU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.

*No. 3 – Karlau (CC) defeated Tijaro (WU) 6-3, 2-6, 11-9.

*No. 4 – Garcia Galian (CC) defeated Razick (WU) 6-4, 7-5.

*No. 5 –Wanjala (CC) defeated Koper (WU) 1-6, 6-4, 10-1.

*No. 6 – Takada (CC) lost to Martensson (WU) 2-6, 6-7.