By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Tennis swept its first home dual of the season, defeating Sterling College 7-0 on Tuesday (Sept. 14) at the FHSU Tennis Courts. The Tigers won all nine official matches contested and even one exhibition contest in singles play. The Tigers move to 1-0 on the season, while the Warriors start their season 0-1.
The Tigers blitzed through doubles play, dropping only three games of the 21 contested within the three matches. The No. 1 team of Stefany Stemmer and Maria Paz Diaz blanked their opponent 6-0, while the No. 2 team of Fiorella Mendez and Kylie Aufdengarten cruised to a 6-1 win. The No. 3 team of Aliyah Frederick and Heidi Lubbers won 6-2.
In singles play, Stemmer at No. 2, Diaz at No. 3, and Heidi Lubbers at No. 5, all surrendered only two games to their opponents. Stemmer and Lubbers won 6-2, 6-0, while Diaz won by the reverse of 6-0, 6-2. Frederick (No. 4) and Hope Lubbers (No. 6) each allowed just three games to their opponents. Frederick won 6-2, 6-1, and Lubbers won 6-3, 6-0. Mendez endured the most pushback from a Sterling opponent, defeating Rachel Carlson at the No. 1 position by scores of 6-4, 6-3. Gracen Friess won an exhibition singles match over April Swartz by a score of 6-1.
The Tigers will prepare for three matches this weekend in Pueblo, Colorado. They are set to play CSU-Pueblo on Friday (Sept. 17), then MSU Denver and Colorado Mesa on Saturday (Sept. 18).