ALPINE, Texas – McMurry University women's tennis extended its winning streak to 13 matches by defeating Sul Ross State University, 9-0, in an American Southwest Conference West Division match-up on the road. The War Hawks improved to 13-4 overall (4-0 ASC West), while the Lobos fell to 2-10 on the year (0-4 ASC West).
The blanking of the SRSU team was McMurry's fourth shutout of an opponent this year, as well. McM took full advantage of a depleted Lobos' roster which fielded just four players for the match, allowing War Hawks' head coach
Mark Hathorn to juggle his lineup to rest players and get others into the competition.
McM took a 3-0 lead after doubles play, sweeping Nos. 1 and 2 doubles and getting the default at the third slot. The No. 1 team of
Bree Brosig and
Samantha Ritz had no trouble with SRSU's sister duo of Anette and Melissa Posada, 8-2. On the year, the Brosig-Ritz partnership has a team-best record of 10-5.
At No. 2 doubles,
Chloe Patterson and
Gabby Camacho – both seniors – dominated the Lobos' Kelyn Likiaska and Daisy Martinez, 8-0. It was the ninth-consecutive doubles win for Patterson and Camacho, with a 9-1 overall record this season.
With the two default points in singles, McM entered the four contested singles matches having already clinched the team win.
Hathorn rested his usual No. 1 singles player (Patterson), with Brosig moving up to win a 6-3, 6-3 straight-set decision over Anette Posada. Brosig is now 9-8 in singles.
Ritz jumped to the No. 2 slot and threw the "double bagel" at Melissa Posada, 6-0, 6-0. For Ritz, it was her 14th-consecutive singles win and improved her overall record to a McM team best 15-2 in individual play.
Sophomore
Zayra Gomez picked off Martinez, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 singles and upped her record to 12-4 this season. Fellow sophomore
Symphony Munoz earned a hard-fought win at No. 4 singles – 7-5, 6-2 – over Likiaksa.
Briana Perez and
Neah Garza received the default wins at the Nos. 5 and 6 positions.
The win by McMurry also sets up a showdown next Tuesday (April 11) at Hardin-Simmons University, the ASC West Division's other undefeated team (both are 4-0 in divisional matches). The winner can clinch at least a share of the ASC West crown with a victory. Match time is slated for 2 p.m.
