GEORGETOWN – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's tennis team defeated the Southwestern University Pirates 7-2 on Sunday at the Marvin D. Henderson Tennis Courts to claim its second win of the weekend. 
 
UTRGV (2-1) took a 2-1 lead by winning two of three matches in a competitive doubles session that featured long rallies and several ties and lead changes. The first doubles match to finish took 55 minutes; the final match was a one hour, 20-minute battle won 8-6 by freshmen Marjorie Souza and Barbara Martinez in the No. 2 spot. 
 
The No. 3 duo of junior Kristyna Mamicova and senior Sandra Putz picked up its second win of the weekend 8-6. 
 
Sophomore Lea Karren and Souza put the Vaqueros on top 4-1 with straight set wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 singles spots, respectively. Martinez secured the victory at 5-1 with a 7-5, 6-1 win in the No. 4 match. 
 
Southwestern (0-2) picked up points in the No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles matches, but the Pirates couldn't outlast the Vaqueros in tight contests. 
 
After dropping the opening set in the No. 5 position, senior Katarina Sasaroga responded well to take the second 6-2 and force a deciding third set. She fought from down 0-2 to up 4-2, then sealed the come-from-behind win 6-4. 
 
Putz won a grueling, point-for-point No. 6 match that lasted three hours and 12 minutes and was decided by tiebreakers. The first and second sets were won 7-6, first by Putz and then by Southwestern's Alli Ziehm. 
 
With the overall victory already determined, they played a 10-point tiebreaker in the third. Putz took control quickly, jumping out to a 7-1 lead, and her relentless effort resulted in a 10-4 win. 
 
Next up, UTRGV is scheduled to play a doubleheader at Prairie View A&M on Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

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