Lady Lions Tennis Bring Two Silver Medals Home

Posted: Oct 09, 2019

The tournament, hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma University, began on Friday at 9:00am, starting with the Singles Flight #1 matches, where Yanniek Voogel (Freshman) lost to Lucia Popluharova from Seward in straight sets (0-6 2-6). In Flight #2, Annunciata De-Souza (Freshman) defeated Brenda Teixeira from Southern Arkansas by the score of 6-2 6-2. Likewise, Birthe Nulens (Sophomore) defeated Kassie Newton from Texas A&M University-Texarkana losing only two games (6-0 6-2). Then, in Flight #3, Annabella Natalini (Freshman) defeated Gracie Higgings from TAMUT in straight sets, 6-1 6-0, giving away only one game in the match. Then, Natalia Martinez (Freshman) lost to Serena Gil from Southern Arkansas by double 2-6. In Flight #4, Mariangela Mendoza (Sophomore) defeated Mikayla Smith from Texas Wesleyan in straight sets (6-3 6-2). While Alexandra Beyer (Freshman) did the same to Karlee Nguyen from Texas Wesleyan as she won 6-3 6-3.

Later on Friday, in the semi finals of Flight #2, De-Souza defeated Hilary Alfaro from Seward by the score of 6-0 6-4, while Nulens lost to Lena Milosevic from Southern Arkansas in a tight match by 1-6 5-7. In Flight #4, Mendoza lost to Kalley Smith from Southern Arkansas in straight sets (3-6 2-6). While Beyer, in a tough match, beat Rachel Routledge from Southeastern Oklahoma in the match tiebreaker 5-7 6-4 10-3 and sealed her pass to the finals. In Consolation #1, Voogel defeated Nguyen from TAMUT by double 6-0. While in Consolation #3, Martinez defeated Covacevich from Texas Wesleyan in a tight match, by the score of 7-5 6-3.

One round of doubles was played on Friday afternoon (8-game Pro Set). In Flight #1, De-Souza/Martinez lost to Antonio/Rey from Texas Wesleyan by the score of 4-8. Likewise, Nulens/Voogel lost to Gil/Milosevic from Southern Arkansas (2-8). Then, in Flight #2, Mendoza/Natalini defeated Lozano/Routledge from Southeastern Oklahoma losing only one game (8-1).

On Saturday morning, in Flight #3, Natalini lost to Diana Budnik from Southern Arkansas by the score of 0-6 3-6. Then, two Lady Lions would play for the championship in their respective flights: in Flight #2, it was De-Souza who lost to Lena Milosevic from Southern Arkansas by double 0-6. While in Flight #4, Beyer lost to Kalley Smith from Southern Arkansas, in a tight match, by the score of 5-7 4-6. In Consolation #1, Voogel lost to Aristizabal from Seward in straight sets (3-6 4-6). While Martinez, in the final match of Consolation #3, beat Salazar from Texas Wesleyan by the score of 8-2.

After the singles final matches, doubles semi finals were played, where Mendoza/Natalini (Flight #2) lost to Smith/Teixeira from Southern Arkansas by the score of 3-8. In Consolation #1, De-Souza/Martinez beat Norman/Ogg 8-1, while Nulens/Voogel did the same to Newton/Nguyen (8-0). The final would be played by the two Lady Lions couples/teams (both withdrew).

The Lady Lions won a total of 13 matches -10 Singles and 3 doubles- and brought home two silver medals (Beyer and De-Souza). Next stop is ITA Southwest Junior College Fall Regional Championships in Tyler, TX on September 21-23.

Line-up

Singles

#1 - Yanniek Voogel 0-1

#2 - Birthe Nulens 1-0

#3 - Annunciata De-Souza 2-0

#4 - Annabella Natalini 1-0

#5 - Natalia Martinez 0-2

#6 - Mariangela Mendoza 1-0

#7 - Alexandra Beyer 2-0

Doubles

#1 - Nulens/Voogel 0-1

#2 - De-Souza/Martinez 0-1