BROWNSVILLE– The fourth-seeded University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's tennis team's run in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament came to an end with a 2-4 loss to top-seeded Grand Canyon University (GCU) on Saturday at the Brownsville Tennis Center.
 
UTRGV (1-1) fell behind early in doubles after dropping the No. 3 doubles match but fought back at No. 1 doubles as seniors Marine Darzyan and Dominique Ibarra defeated Celina Buhr and Emilia Occhipinti 6-4. GCU (1-0) clinched the doubles point with a win at No. 2 doubles to take the early 1-0 lead.
 
GCU added to its lead with a win at No. 5 singles but it was senior Michelle Walker who got UTRGV on the board with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Buhr at No. 3 singles. 
 
Ibarra tied the match at 2-2 after defeating Occhipinti 6-3, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Ibarra extended her singles win streak to 15 straight games. She finishes her career with 66 singles victories and 55 doubles, both of which are the second most in program history.
 
GCU closed out the match with wins at No. 2 and No. 4 singles to clinch a spot in the WAC Championship match on Sunday against No. 2 New Mexico State. 
 
Singles (5,3,1,2,4)
1. Dominique Ibarra (UTRGV) def. Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Celia Morel (GCU) def. Marine Darzyan (UTRGV) 6-2, 6-2
3. Michelle Walker (UTRGV) def. Celina Buhr (GCU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Martina Lo Pumo (GCU) def. Doris Aleksovska (UTRGV)  7-5, 6-3
5. Ludovica Infantino (GCU) def. Nethmi Waduge (UTRGV) 6-1, 6-1
6. Sandra Putz (UTRGV) vs. Autum Prudhomme (GCU) 6-4, 4-6, 1-2 unfinished 
 
Doubles (3,1,2)
1. Marine Darzyan/Dominique Ibarra (UTRGV) def. Celina Buhr/Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) 6-4
2. Martina Lo Pumo/Ludovica Infantino (GCU) def. Michelle Walker/Doris Aleksovska (UTRGV) 7-5
3. Celia Morel/Autum Prudhomme (GCU) def. Sandra Putz/Katarina Sasaroga (UTRGV) 6-2

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