CHICAGO – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's tennis team became the first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) team to beat Grand Canyon University (GCU) this season and the first overall since Feb. 23 by winning 4-3 on Saturday at the Chicago State Tennis Courts.
 
UTRGV (6-11, 3-2 WAC) finishes WAC play in a three-way tie for second place, one game behind GCU (9-8, 4-1 WAC). UTRGV is currently tied with New Mexico State (3-2 WAC) and will be tied with either Kansas City (2-2 WAC) or Chicago State (2-2 WAC), who play on Sunday.
 
After dropping the doubles point, UTRGV quickly got on the board in singles when senior Dominique Ibarra dispatched of Emilia Occhipinti 6-0, 6-3 on court one and freshman Sandra Putz beat Autum Prudhomme 6-3, 6-1 on court six.
 
GCU led 3-2 as courts four and five went to decisive third sets. Freshman Nethmi Waduge beat Ludovica Infantino 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 on court five. The match was decided on court four, where senior Doris Aleksovska edged Martina Lo Pumo 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 to halt GCU's seven-match winning streak.
 
Ibarra also teamed with senior Marine Darzyan to pick up a 6-1 doubles win on court one. Ibarra now has a program-record career total of 115 wins, including 63 singles wins and 52 doubles wins, the former of which is the third-highest total in program history, and the latter of which is tied for second. Ibarra has now won 12-straight singles matches.
 
UTRGV closes out the regular season on April 20 at 2 p.m. at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
Complete Results
Singles
1. Dominique Ibarra(UTRGV) def. Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Celia Morel (GCU) def. Marine Darzyan(UTRGV) 6-3, 6-4
3. Celina Buhr (GCU) def. Michelle Walker(UTRGV) 7-6 (4), 6-3
4. Doris Aleksovska(UTRGV) def. Martina Lo Pumo (GCU) 7-6, 3-6, 7-5
5. Nethmi Waduge(UTRGV) def. Ludovica Infantino (GCU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
6. Sandra Putz(UTRGV) def. Autum Prudhomme (GCU) 6-3, 6-1 
 
Doubles
1. Marine Darzyan/Dominique Ibarra(UTRGV) def. Emilia Occhipinti/Celina Buhr (GCU) 6-1
2. Martina Lo Pumo/Ludovica Infantino (GCU) def. Michelle Walker/Doris Aleksovska(UTRGV) 6-3
3. Celia Morel/Autum Prudhomme (GCU) def. Sandra Putz/Katarina Sasaroga(UTRGV) 6-4

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