Women's Tennis Tripped Up By St. Mary's (TX), 5-2

Posted: Mar 16, 2023

Orlando, Fla. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to St. Mary's University (TX) on Thursday afternoon, as the Spartans took part in third straight day of matches in the Sunshine State.

STAC slips to 11-2 on the year, while St. Mary's improves to 12-3.

St. Mary's opened the match, sweeping the doubles point, as Ashley Penshorn and Kyndall Quiroz downed Ebba Rosberg and Samanta Villegas Robles, 6-1, followed by Angela Vargas and Bailey Godwin's 6-2 win over Elita Silins and Jemima Parkinson. The team of Stela Sifuentes and Gabi Ioannou ended doubles play with a 6-4 victory against Paula Palero and Amaia Balaguer Brau

Once the teams turned to singles competition, St. Mary's quickly moved to end the event by winning the first three matches on the strength of a 6-1, 6-2 victory from Bailey Godwin over Elita Silins, then a 6-1, 6-2 triumph by Gabi Ioannou against Samanta Villegas Robles and finally a 6-2, 6-4 win courtesy of Angela Vargas versus Viktoriia Pavlovets. Paula Palero then broke the shutout for the Spartans, beating Elena Munoz, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to make it a 4-1 match. Amaia Balaguer Brau made it two wins in a row for the Spartans, with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 win against Kyndall Quiroz. However, St. Mary's closed things out with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory by Ashley Penshorn over Ebba Rosberg.

St. Mary's 5/STAC 2 - OFFICIAL RESULTS

DOUBLES

1. Ashley Penshorn & Kyndall Quiroz (STM) def. Ebba Rosberg & Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) 6-1

2. Angela Vargas & Bailey Godwin (STM) def. Elita Silins & Jemima Parkinson (STAC) 6-2

3. Stela Sifuentes & Gabi Ioannou (STM) def. Paula Palero & Amaia Balaguer Brau (STAC) 6-4

Order of Finish: 1, 2*, 3

SINGLES

1. Ashley Penshorn (STM) def. Ebba Rosberg (STAC) 6-4, 7-6 (5)

2. Angela Vargas (STM) def. Viktoriia Pavlovets (STAC) 6-2, 6-4

3. Paula Palero (STAC) def. Elena Munoz 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

4. Gabi Ioannou (STM) def. Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) 6-1, 6-2

5. Amaia Balaguer Brau (STAC) def. Kyndall Quiroz (STM) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

6. Bailey Godwin (STM) def. Elita Silins (STAC) 6-1, 6-2

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

St. Mary's Record: 12-3, 1-1 LSC

STAC Record: 11-2, 5-0 ECC

THE ROCKHILL REPORT

"Another tough loss for us today against a top team in the country", said Coach Dan Rockhill. "I am proud of our effort however, and think we are headed in the right direction. This group is so much fun to coach and we are building for something special in April and May."

"I have been coaching Paula for four years and know that she is capable of great things. She is putting together a solid spring trip."

"Amaia was also amazing today and is starting to show that she will soon be a top of the lineup player."

"The challenge will be to get all our players performing as the best versions", remarked Rockhill. "When that happens, we will be dangerous."

UP NEXT

STAC closes its Florida spring break road trip, taking on Slippery Rock University on Friday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m.