Women's Tennis Suffers 4-3 Setback to Dallas Baptist

Posted: Mar 14, 2023

Orlando, Fla. - After having to wait an extra day due to rainy conditions, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Tennis team suffered its first defeat of the 2022-2023 season, a 4-3 setback to Dallas Baptist University on Tuesday.

STAC slips to 10-1 on the year, while DBU improves to 11-2.

Dallas Baptist opened the match, sweeping the doubles point, as Sofia Teran and Isabella Arana Rios downed Eliza Mulder and Paula Palero, 6-1, followed by Angela Charles-Alfred and Jenna Payne's 6-2 win over Ebba Rosberg and Samanta Villegas Robles. The team of Madison Stafford and Caroline Hudson ended pairs play with a 7-5 victory against Elita Silins and Jemima Parkinson.

Once the teams turned to singles competition, DBU quickly moved to 2-0 on the strength of a 6-1, 6-2 victory from Sofia Teran over Vera Gak Anagrova. Paula Palero then broke the shutout for the Spartans, beating Leonie Schondelmaier, 6-4, 6-4 to make it a 2-1 match. However, the Patriots kept momentum on their side, sweeping the next two matches to win the day. First Angela Charles-Alfred bested Viktoria Pavlovets 6-3, 6-2 to give her team a commanding 3-1 advantage. The clincher came courtesy of Isabella Arana Rios, who was able to get past Amaia Balaguer Brau, 6-3, 6-4. Samanta Villegas Robles (6-4, 6-3) and Elita Silins (6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (6)) closed the margin on the scoreboard with victories in the final two matches.

DALLAS BAPTIST 4/STAC 3 - OFFICIAL RESULTS

DOUBLES

1. Angela Charles-Alfred & Jenna Payne (DBU) def. Ebba Rosberg & Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) 6-2

2. Madison Stafford & Caroline Hudson (DBU) def. Elita Silins & Jemima Parkinson (STAC) 7-5

3. Sofia Teran & Isabella Arana Rios (DBU) def. Eliza Mulder & Paula Palero (STAC) 6-1

Order of Finish: 3, 1*, 2

SINGLES

1. Angela Charles-Alfred (DBU) def. Viktoriia Pavlovets (STAC) 6-3, 6-2

2. Paula Palero (STAC) def. Leonie Schondelmaier (DBU) 6-4, 6-4

3. Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) def. Caroline Hudson (DBU) 6-4, 6-3

4. Isabella Arana Rios (DBU) def. Amaia Balaguer Brau (STAC) 6-3, 6-4

5. Elita Silins (STAC) def. Jenna Payne (DBU) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (6)

6. Sofia Teran (DBU) def. Vera Gak Anagrova (STAC) 6-1, 6-2

Order of Finish: 6, 2, 1, 4*, 3, 5

DBU Record: 10-6, 0-2 LSC

STAC Record: 10-1, 5-0 ECC

THE ROCKHILL REPORT

"This was a difficult match for us today", said Coach Dan Rockhill. "I will take responsibility for our preparation, which was clearly not what it needed to be. We were simply not fully ready, from top to bottom, to compete at the level that was required."

"I am so proud of, and happy for, Paula, Samy and Elita. They fought like crazy and competed their hearts out from start to finish. Playing without Ebba (injured) at the top of the lineup created a huge opportunity for our players to step up a spot and get signature wins. Those three Spartans demonstrated what is great about competing at the collegiate level and showed their teammates what is needed from them for the balance of the season."

"We probably let a special opportunity slip away today, but we have a chance to rebound tomorrow versus Carthage", remarked Rockhill.

UP NEXT

STAC takes on Carthage College in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, March 15 (8:00 a.m.), as the team's spring break tour continues.