Photo Courtesy Tarleton Athletics
No. 13 Tarleton State University dropped its second Lone Star Conference game of the season (4-3) at the Potishman-Lard Tennis Complex, in Stephenville, Tuesday afternoon.
“Cameron came out very steady and ready to put up a fight,” sophomore Sherine Salem said. “They knew what to do and we were not good enough today.”
The TexAnns started off by losing the doubles point.
“We really needed the double point. It could have helped us a lot today,” junior Alicia Barbaroux said.
Barbaroux and Neetika Sud, the nationally-ranked pair, dropped their match 6-7 to Rebeka Velasova and Alisa Savina in the No. 2 seed. Tarleton’s Salem and Faustine Palatte’s fight wasn’t enough to win the match in the No. 2 position against Sara Petric and Sarah Frendo. Tarleton players Shelby Filingame and Nathalie Ulander defeated Melany Opolz and Pilar Jaurena, 6-3.
“We have opportunities to finish the game, even match points, but Cameron kept fighting,” Salem said. “They were very steady and fought for every point.”
In singles, Sud, Ulander, and Filingame won the three first matches for Tarleton to take the lead in the scoreboard 3-1. In the No. 3 and 4 spots, Salem and Palatte lost their games and Cameron tied the game 3-3.
The deciding match was a thriller in the No. 1 position against Barbaroux and Frendo.
“I fought every point,” Barbaroux said. “I lost the first set in the last point, and in the second set I was down 5-1 and at the end I had the chance to came back 5-4.”
Barbaroux fierce fight and determination wasn’t enough to defeat Frendo who posted a very solid game (6-7, 3-6).
“I missed a few balls that changed the game,” Barbaroux said. “Overall it was a good match and I think next time we play them it will be different.”
“We can beat any team if we play aggressive and fight for every point,” Salem said.
The TexAnns will be back in action on Friday at 2 p.m. to take over the Javalinas in Kingsville for another Lone Star Conference game.
Article from Texan News Service by Blanca Izquierdo.
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