Box Score EDMOND, Okla. - In the opening round of the ITA National Indoor Championship, the No.5 and second-seeded Columbus State University women's tennis team fell 4-3 to No. 14 and seventh-seeded Southwest Baptist University on Friday. The tournament is being held at Edmond Center Court in Edmond, Okla., just outside of Oklahoma City.
After winning the doubles point, the Lady Cougars (1-2) dropped four of the six singles decisions to allow the Bearcats to rally for the win.
"This match felt like a postseason match for sure," commented head coach Evan Isaacs. "It's been a tough start us as we are getting people back in the lineup and playing some of the toughest competition in the nation doesn't make anything easier. In the long run, this will make us a better team, and we still have two more matches out here to improve."
It was a battle in doubles play, with the first point of the match coming down to third doubles.
CSU completed the first match of the day with Valentina Abrile and Sara Ramirez Goncalves taking second doubles 6-3. In the top spot, Dona Abobahaga and Constanca Crespo rallied to top Beatriz Lopez and Yelena Labat 6-4.
Third doubles needed an extra game to decide the outcome, but eventually Luise Sachs and Amanda Citre pulled out the 7-6 win to give Columbus State the 1-0 advantage.
The momentum swung in singles play as the Lady Cougars only won at third and sixth singles. Abrile was a 7-5, 6-1 winner in the third position over Elsa Pascual. Citre was impressive at sixth singles. After dropping the first set 6-3, Citre rebounded, taking the final two 6-1, 6-1 to secure the victory.
SBU found straight-set wins at first and fifth singles, while Sachs dropped a three-set outcome in the second spot.
Fourth singles decided the match as Ramirez and Catarina Zheng went back-and-forth in a three-set thriller. Zheng outlasted the freshman 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 to send the Bearcats to the semifinals.
Columbus State will play in the consolation bracket on Saturday at 9 a.m. versus No. 7 University of West Florida.
