SMU’s Claire Rietsch prepares to serve the ball during the match against TCU. (Christina Parrish)
Despite poor weather conditions and other scheduled matches, the SMU women’s tennis team pulled out a 4-1 victory over conference opponent Rice on Saturday. The match finally started five hours after its originally scheduled time and did not end until the early hours of the morning. The win makes SMU 12-4 for the season and advances the team to 2-1 in C-USA play.
The Mustangs kicked off the night by winning the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2, leaving the No. 3 match unfinished.
Junior Natalia Bubien and freshman Claire Reitsch improved their record to 12-2 with an 8-5 win over Julie Chao and Tiffany Lee. Partners senior Jennifer Chay and freshman Pavi Francis also took an 8-5 victory over Rice Owls Dominique Karas and Rebecca Lin at No. 2.
In singles, Chay and Reitsch beat their opponents at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Chay defeated Christine Dao in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. The SMU senior holds a 6-4 record at the No. 2 spot and 7-6 overall this season.
Reitsch went three sets with Lee before ending the match 7-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3. Her win clinched the four hour and 15 minute victory for the Mustangs. Reitsch still holds SMU’s best singles record at 13-2 for the season, going 11-1 at No. 3 and 2-1 at No. 2.
Francis also won her match at No. 4 over Rice’s Karas 6-4, 6-4. The win improves Francis’ singles record to 12-4 this season. In doubles, she and partner Chay hold a 10-6 record.
Both Natalia Bubien and Georgiana Marta, at No. 1 and No. 5, left their matches unfinished in the third set. Bubien was headed for a tiebreaker with Julie Chao when the match ended at 3-6, 7-6, 6-6.
Marta and opponent Lin went 7-5, 6-7, 2-2 before the match ended due to SMU’s victory. Marta, a senior currently has an 8-4 overall record and is 2-0 in conference matches.
Sophomore Kristen Reid fell to Emily Braid 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 6 while Monica Neveklovska defeated Veronica Sagastegui 6-1, 6-1 at No. 7 singles.
The Mustangs return March 31 for a five-match home stand, beginning with a double-header against Louisiana-Lafayette and Prairie View A&M.
