Tennis Falls Short to No. 7 Baylor
March 27, 2015 05:53 PM | General
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| Junior Hailey Barrett defeated Baylor's No. 82 Rachael James-Baker in straight sets (6-3, 7-5), making that her first victory over a ranked opponent this season. |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Arguably its best Big 12 match of the season, the West Virginia University women’s tennis team gave No. 7 Baylor all they could handle, but ultimately fell short, 4-3, at Ridgeview Racquet Club, on Friday afternoon.
“I thought we did better today in some respects. Overall, we definitely had a better approach towards the match,” said second-year coach Miha Lisac. “I thought Baylor played well in doubles today, but we have to get better at handling important situations. We are beginning to take the right steps forward in order to continue to make progress and improve overall as a team.”
The Mountaineers (9-7, 0-4 Big 12) fell behind 1-0, as the team dropped matches at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions. The contest between the duo of senior Ikttesh Chahal and freshman Habiba Shaker and the Bears’ Leolia JeanJean and Kelley Anderson was abandoned at 5-3 once the team-point was clinched at the conclusion of the No. 3 doubles match.
In singles action, West Virginia was able to win three of the six singles matches.
Freshman Carolina Lewis tied the match at one-all, as she made quick work of her opponent to put the Mountaineers on the board. She bested Baylor’s Theresa Van Zyl in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-1.
However, West Virginia’s deficit grew after sophomore Kaja Mrgole fell to Baylor’s No. 25 Ema Burgic at the No. 1 slot (6-1, 6-1). At No. 3 singles, Chahal fell to Baylor’s No. 99 JeanJean in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-3.
With West Virginia down 3-1, Shaker overcame a three-set battle to bring the Mountaineers within one. Shaker captured the first set, but fell in the second. She was able to prevail in a third set tiebreaker, as she cruised past Baylor’s Kelley Anderson with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
Junior Hailey Barrett tied the match at three-all. She rolled on to a straight set win at the No. 2 slot against Baylor’s No. 82 Rachael James-Baker (6-3, 7-5), making that her first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The match-clinching point came at the No. 6 position, where freshman Yvon Martinez stumbled against Baylor’s Kelly Putri (6-4, 6-1).
The Mountaineers return to the court on Sunday, March 29 to square off against No. 32 Texas, at Ridgeview Racquet Club. The match is set to begin at 10 a.m.
Singles Competition
No. 1: Ema Burgic (BU) def. Kaja Mrgole (WVU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 2: Hailey Barrett (WVU) def. Rachael James-Baker (BU), 6-3, 7-5
No. 3: Leolia JeanJean (BU) def. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4: Habiba Shaker (WVU), Kelley Anderson (BU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
No. 5: Carolina Lewis (WVU) Theresa Van Zyl (BU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 6: Kelly Putri (BU) def. Yvon Martinez (WVU), 6-4, 6-1
Doubles Competition
No. 1: Ema Burgic/Rachael James-Baker (BU) def. Hailey Barrett/Carolina Lewis (WVU), 6-3
No. 2: Leolia JeanJean/Kelley Anderson (BU) vs. Ikttesh Chahal/Habiba Shaker (WVU), 5-3
No. 3: Kely Putri/Theresa Van Zyl (BU) def. Kaja Mrgole/Yvon Martinez (WVU), 6-3
Oder of finish: Doubles (1, 3); Singles (5, 1, 3, 4, 2, 6)
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