By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State is now 6-6 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA after a 6-1 loss to Emporia State on Saturday (March 30) at the FHSU Tennis Courts. The Tigers generated their only team point off of a win in singles play, even though they took one of the three doubles matches contested. Emporia State moved to 4-6 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA.
The No. 2 doubles team of Irina Alfonso and Ines Latorre picked up a win in doubles play by a score of 6-4. However, the Hornets took two of the three doubles matches for the first team point before singles action. The No. 1 team of Fiorella Mendez and Shreethika Vangala and the No. 3 team of Grace Unruh and Yone Pereiro each fell by scores of 6-1.
Alfonso (No. 2 position) was the only Tiger with a win in singles action, winning in straight sets over Giovanna Ferreira, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). Vangala (No. 1) and Latorre (No. 4) each generated five points within their matches. Vangala fell 6-2, 6-3, while Latorre fell 6-1, 6-4. Pereiro (No. 3) improved in the second set in a 6-0, 6-4 loss. Unruh (No. 6) fell 6-1, 6-2, and Mendez (No. 5) fell 6-0, 6-2.
Hope Lubbers picked up an exhibition win in singles play for the Tigers by a score of 8-6, while the doubles tandem of Bethan Gill and Ines Steeman lost an exhibition doubles match 6-1.
Fort Hays State heads to Oklahoma next week for three matches, April 5-7. The first two will be in conference action against Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State and the last match of the week will be non-conference at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Friday
Fort Hays State Tennis had a chance for a late rally back in singles play against Newman University in the MIAA opener on Friday (March 29) at the FHSU Tennis Courts. Down 3-1 in the match, the Tigers forced a decisive third set in three singles matches and took two of the three, falling just a point short in a 4-3 loss to the Jets on Friday. Newman moved to 11-6 overall, 1-0 MIAA, while FHSU moved to 6-5 overall, 0-1 MIAA.
The Tigers served notice they were going to give the Jets a fight early on when they won two of three doubles matches to take the first team point of the match. The No. 1 team of Shreethika Vangala and Fiorella Mendez, and the No. 2 team of Irina Alfonso and Ines Latorrewere victorious. Vangala and Mendez posted a 6-3 win and the doubles team point came down to Alfonso and Latorre’s match, which they won 7-6 by taking a tiebreak 7-3. The No. 3 team of Yone Pereiro and Grace Unruh put up a fight at No. 3, falling in a competitive 6-4 match.
Pereiro and Unruh would bounce back for the Tigers in singles play as the two that took their matches to make the final score just a one-point margin. After the Jets claimed the first three singles matches to complete and take a 3-1 lead, Pereiro, Unruh, and Mendez all went to third sets with a chance to give the Tigers a dramatic comeback, which they nearly pulled off.
Pereiro (No. 3 position) won her first set 6-4 and fell in the second set 6-2, but stormed back for a 6-4 win in the third. Unruh (No. 6 position) bounced back from a 6-2 first-set loss to win by the same score in the second and third sets. Mendez (No. 5) fell 6-4 in the first and bounced back with a 6-3 win to force the final set, but fell 6-1 in the decisive frame.
Vangala (No. 1), Alfonso (No. 2), and Latorre (No. 4) all fell in straight sets in singles. Alfonso generated the most points by winning two in each set against her opponent.
Heidi Lubbers and Hope Lubbers played an exhibition doubles match and fell 6-4. Bethan Gill and Ines Steeman each played exhibition singles matches. Gill lost 7-6 (7-4) and Steeman lost 6-3.