Women's tennis rallies to defeat UTEP, 4-3

Women's Tennis | 1/22/2017 7:58:00 AM

ABILENE - Senior Erin Walker's three set victory at No. 2 singles sparked Abilene Christian's comeback victory over UTEP Saturday night at the Teague Special Events Center as the Wildcats rallied from a 3-0 deficit to top the Miners, 4-3.

After losing the doubles point by scores of 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 and two competitive matches at No. 1 and 3 singles, Walker came back from a set down against Milou Pietersz to win, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. The second half of the Wildcats' lineup then dominated their matches with three consecutive straight-set triumphs.

Freshman Sarah Eleanor Adams made it a one-point game with her 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 4 over Daphe Visscher. Sophomore Jordan Henry tied the score at 3-3, beating Maria Paula Medina at No. 5, 6-3, 6-1, and sophomore transfer Autumn Crossnoe capped the comeback with a convincing, 6-0, 6-1 win over Raven Bennett at the No. 6 line.

ACU has defeated UTEP, 4-3, in consecutive years with the Wildcats winning in El Paso last spring.

The Wildcats' win over the Miners gave them a split of Saturday's doubleheader as they began their day with a 6-0 loss to TCU. The Horned Frogs swept doubles led by their 16th-ranked tandem of Donika Bashota and Olaya Garrido-Rivas, and in singles they won the first five matches before allowing the No. 6 match to go unfinished.

Two ACU players pushed their opponents into a third set with Lucile Pothier bowing to Bashota at the No. 1 line, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, and Garrido-Rivas hanging on to beat Adams at No. 4, 7-5, 2-6, 10-5.

Many other scores were close as No. 75 Seda Arantekin topped Walker, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 2, and No. 115 Marie Norris beat Whitney Williams at No. 3, 6-4, 6-4. Crossnoe lost at No. 5 to Caroline Wegner, 6-1, 6-4.

The Wildcats return to action next weekend with a trip to Houston where they will face Prairie View A&M and the Houston Cougars. 
 

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TCU 6, Abilene Christian 0
Jan 21, 2017 at Abilene, Texas (Teague Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Donika Bashota (TCU) def. Lucile Pothier (ACU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
2. #75 Seda Arantekin (TCU) def. Erin Walker (ACU) 6-2, 6-4
3. #115 Marie Norris (TCU) def. Whitney Williams (ACU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Olaya Garrido-Rivas (TCU) def. Sarah Adams (ACU) 7-5, 2-6, 10-5
5. Caroline Wegner (TCU) def. Autumn Crossnoe (ACU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Jordan Henry (ACU) vs. Alexis Pereira (TCU) 2-6, 2-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. #16 Donika Bashota/Olaya Garrido-Rivas (TCU) def. Whitney Williams/Erin Walker (ACU) 6-2
2. Seda Arantekin/Caroline Wegner (TCU) def. Lucile Pothier/Sarah Adams (ACU) 7-6 (7-1)
3. Alexis Pereira/Aleksandra Zenovka (TCU) def. Ansley Boarman/Jordan Henry (ACU) 6-1

Match Notes
TCU 2-0
Abilene Christian 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,1,5,4)
 

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Abilene Christian 4, UTEP 3
Jan 21, 2017 at Abilene, Texas (Teague Special Events Center) 

Singles competition
1. Vivienne Kulicke (UTEP) def. Lucile Pothier (ACU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Erin Walker (ACU) def. Milou Pietersz (UTEP) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Lois Wagenvoort (UTEP) def. Whitney Williams (ACU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Sarah Adams (ACU) def. Daphne Visscher (UTEP) 6-3, 6-4
5. Jordan Henry (ACU) def. Maria Paula Medina (UTEP) 6-3, 6-1
6. Autumn Crossnoe (ACU) def. Raven Bennett (UTEP) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Vivienne Kulicke/Milou Pietersz (UTEP) def. Whitney Williams/Lucile Pothier (ACU) 7-5
2. Erin Walker/Sarah Adams (ACU) def. Duda Santos/Lois Wagenvoort (UTEP) 6-3
3. Daphne Visscher/Raven Bennett (UTEP) def. Autumn Crossnoe/Jordan Henry (ACU) 6-4

Match Notes
UTEP 0-2
Abilene Christian 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,1,2,4,5,6)