ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Tennis continued its three-game weekend home stand with its first American Southwest Conference divisional match of the season Saturday, as the men and women fell to the Tornados in Abilene.
Women's Tennis: Concordia Texas 6, McMurry 3
The War Hawks (4-8, 0-1 ASC) earned two of the three doubles points for the early lead, but slipped behind in singles play.
"We had a tough 3-6 battle that could've gone either way," said McMurry head coach Chris Breaux. "We saw what we can do against our West Division opponent, which makes us hopeful moving forward."
The day started with doubles play, as Andrea Smith and McKenzie Carroll took down Claire Austin and Trinity Klamecki in an 8-7 thriller. McMurry then took the lead with a similar result at the top flight, as Hope Turner and Hannah DeFriend won 8-7 over Isabella Wiik and Kaitlin Stevens.
Concordia Texas (7-4, 1-0 ASC) won four of the six singles matches to clinch, with McMurry's lone wins coming from Bridgette Fly at the No. 3 singles spot and Smith at No. 4 singles. Fly defeated Claire Austin in three sets, coming from behind to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Smith also won a three-set battle, earning a 10-2 tiebreaker.
Men's Tennis: Concordia Texas 9, McMurry 0
The men's team (2-11, 0-1 ASC) opened conference play against the defending ASC champions, but came away empty handed despite some close calls.
"We had a tough opponent today in last year's conference title winners," Breaux said. "The men came out and took them head on, almost clinching one doubles and battling in singles."
Chase Daniell and Reid Smith teamed up at the No. 1 doubles spot, falling 8-6 against Concordia's top duo – Joshua Boda and Adrian Munguia. The Tornados (7-3, 1-0 ASC) won the other two doubles and swept singles for the win.
Daniell and Bode went head-to-head at the top singles seed, with Bode pulling out a close 6-4, 6-3 win.
Connor Hogan also held his own at No. 3 singles, falling 6-2, 7-5 with a near-victory in the second frame.
On Deck
The War Hawks conclude their three-game home stand tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Austin College.
