March 27, 2008
It was probably one of the biggest home matches of the season for The University of Texas-Pan American women's tennis team this season, as they went head-to-head with nationally-ranked program Lamar University and fell short 4-3 on Thursday afternoon.
"I was very proud of the women today, they went toe-to-toe with a nationally ranked program and came up just a hair short," said head men`s and women`s tennis coach Rob Hubbard. "They have continued to improve all season and I feel that they can get even stronger."
With the setback, the Lady Broncs fell to 14-7 on the season and dropped their first home match of the season.
The Lady Broncs started off slow in the doubles' competition losing all three matches against the Cardinals.
Tandem Giana Oliveira and Julia Cirne-Lima suffered a 8-3 setback over Andrea Martinez and Mariaryeni Gutierrez in the top flight while Silke Buksik and Megan Bedeau dropped the second flight by a score of 8-4 against Mariantonieta Gutierrez and Manijee Ashrafi.
Stephanie Willerding and Luisa Cantu were unable to capture the third doubles match as they fell 8-5 against Kaltrina Harbuzi and Salina Aranda.
"Our only real shortcoming today was in the doubles where we just didn't seem to get our motor started. But the team bounced back and fought Lamar to the end in the singles," said Hubbard.
After dropping the doubles' point, the Lady Broncs stepped back onto the court hungry and determined to compete side by side against a nationally-ranked opponent. Three of the Lady Broncs recorded victories including senior captain Buksik who recorded her 11th straight win.
"It was another great day for Silke Buksik, Luisa Cantu, and Stephanie Willerding, as all three came away with well earned victories in the singles action," concluded Hubbard.
In the number-one spot, Oliveira dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision over Andrea Martinez while Cirne-Lima fell to Mariaryeni Gutierrez by scores of 6-0, 6-2 in the number-two spot of the rotation.
Bedeau suffered a 6-3, 6-4 setback over Harbuzi in the number-three spot while Willerding recorded a huge 6-1, 4-6 and 6-2 victory over Mariantonieta Gutierrez in the number-four spot in the lineup.
Recording the second singles' victory for the Lady Broncs was Buksik who handed Ashrafi a 6-2, 6-1 setback playing in the number-five spot while Cantu posted a easy 6-1, 6-0 win over Aranda in the number-six spot of the lineup.
The Lady Broncs will have one final home game on the 2008 campaign, where they will take on University of Texas at Arlington on Sunday (Apr. 6) at the Orville Cox Tennis Center at 11 a.m.
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