SMU Women’s Tennis Falls In C-USA Semifinal Round

{fshare id=3724}

HOUSTON (SMU) — The No. 51 SMU women’s tennis team fell 4-1 against No. 20 Rice in the semifinals of the Conference USA Championship on Saturday. Yana Erkeeva earned the lone point for the Mustangs (14-10).

“We put up a fight today, but Rice was too tough,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We played with the lead in doubles and won five first sets, but this is not a one set contest. Congratulations to Rice!”

The Mustangs fell behind early as Rice took the doubles point. At No. 3 doubles, Edyta Cieplucha and Elena Fayner won 8-6. Cieplucha now has 72 career doubles victories which is seventh at SMU.

In singles, the Mustangs won the first set in five of six matchups. At No. 6, Yana Erkeeva capitalized on here first set win by sweeping Solomiya Zinko 6-3, 6-4.

Two of the matchups were left unfinished, including the top singles contest. No. 74 Aleksandra Malyarchikova was tied 2-2 in the this set against No. 43 Natalie Beazant of RICE. The first two sets had gone to tiebreakers with Beazant talking the first 7-6 (7-0) and Malyarchikova getting the second 7-6 (9-7).

The NCAA team selections are April 30 and the individual selections on May 1.