The Tech women’s tennis team earned its first win in a match against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock by a 4-3 score on Feb. 7. The Golden Eagles evened their non-conference season record to 1-1 with the win at Fairfield Glade in Crossville, Tenn. A late match tie-breaking win by sophomore Diana Woodcock preserved the win despite her recent injury.
“When Diana got to 6-6, I just had a feeling that she was going to close it out in the breaker,” said Coach Dan Silverstein. “She has worked hard through her injury and is getting better every day.”
Although Woodcock’s late match effort over UA-LR’s Nathalia Garay, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), guaranteed the win, Tech’s improved play in doubles gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead in the match. The Kelly Holtzhausen and Katie Barnhill team won the No. 1 slot while Woodcock and Joanna Corkern earned the victory in the No. 3 position.
“I believe we won the doubles point because we were a bit more aggressive at net than we were against Middle Tennessee,” said Silverstein. “Joanna and Diana attacked the ball and took over the net at No. 3 doubles.”
UA-LR fought back with three victories in singles play. At the No. 1 position, Trojan Anne Weijenborg defeated sophomore Barnhill, 6-3, 6-4.
In the No. 4 position, UA-LR’s Rebecca Van Den Houte topped freshman Laura Porras, 6-1, 6-2. The final Trojan point came from Fanny Lopez as she outlasted freshman Alena Krutkina, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
Contributing to the Tech victory, sophomore Holtzhausen won over Trojan Marta Gomez-Jordana, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, in the No. 2 spot. In the No. 3 slot, freshman Tatiana Denezhkina topped UA-LR’s Chantel Coolen, 7-5, 6-4.
“This is such a young team that this win will finally tell these girls we can compete with everyone on our schedule,” said Silverstein. “We have been preaching consistency and aggressive play.
“This is a team win, one through six.”
The next Golden Eagle match is Feb. 15 against Arkansas State at Fairfield Glade.
