RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's tennis team dropped its home finale to the Prairie View A&M University Panthers 3-4 on Sunday at Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
The Vaqueros (3-15) got off to a strong start, earning the doubles point as sophomore Sandra Putz and freshman Harlingen South alum Valeria Montero defeated Jimena Duran-Castellanos and Salma Sanchez Villalobos 6-2 on court two while sophomore Ana Platisa and freshman Kristyna Mamicova defeated Annette Lira and Ruju Chauhan 6-3 on court three.
 
The Vaqueros extended their lead to 2-0 when Paltisa dispatched of Duran-Castellanos 6-3, 6-0 in singles on court two.
 
After the Panthers (8-16) earned their first point with a with an Annette Lira victory over freshman Asia Allen at No. 6 7-6 (4), 6-2, Putz finished off Chauhan 6-1, 7-6 at No. 3 to make the score 3-1. 
 
The Panthers earned another point on court one as Victoria Fuenmayor Castillo defeated sophomore Katarina Sasaroga 6-3, 7-6 (2).
 
The remaining two matches went to three sets.
 
Junior Alicia Thal took the early advantage on court five, beating Villalobos 6-4 in the first set. After Villalobos won the second set 6-3, the two played a tight third set that ended with a 7-5 Villalobos victory.
 
The match came down to court four, where Montero won her first set over Claudia Andrea Islas Medina 6-2. Medina responded with a 6-3 win in the second set. Montero and Medina played to a draw in the third set, but Medina won the tiebreaker to give the Panthers the victory.
 
UTRGV is back in action on April 14 at 1 p.m. at UTEP.
 
Complete Results
Doubles (1,2,3)
1. Victoria Fuenmayor Castillo/Claudia Andrea Islas Medina (PVAM) def. Isabelle Bahr/Katarina Sasaroga (UTRGV) 2-3 (injury default)
2. Sandra Putz/Valeria Montero (UTRGV) def. Jimena Duran-Castellanos/Salma Sanchez Villalobos (PVAM) 6-2
3. Ana Platisa/Kristyna Mamicova (UTRGV) def. Annette Lira/Ruju Chauhan (PVAM) 6-3
 
Singles (2,6,3,1,5,4)
1. Victoria Fuenmayor Castillo (PVAM) def. Katarina Sasaroga (UTRGV) 6-3, 7-6 (2)
2. Ana Platisa (UTRGV) def. Jimena Duran-Castellanos (PVAM) 6-3, 6-0
3. Sandra Putz (UTRGV) def. Ruju Chauhan (PVAM) 6-1, 7-6
4. Claudia Andrea Islas Medina (PVAM) def. Valeria Montero (UTRGV) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
5. Salma Sanchez Villalobos (PVAM) def. Alicia Thal (UTRGV) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
6. Annette Lira (PVAM) def. Asia Allen (UTRGV) 7-6 (4), 6-2

Support UTRGV Women's Tennis | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube