STEPHENVILLE – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's tennis team dropped its Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opening match 6-1 to the Tarleton Texans Friday at the Potishman-Lard Tennis Courts. 
 
The rivalry-like matchup started with an intense doubles session. Tarleton's Martha Makantasi/Clara Sobius took a 6-4 win in the No. 1 flight, then UTRGV's team of junior Isabelle Bahr and sophomore Marjorie Souza fought to earn a solid 6-4 win in the No. 2 flight, turning all eyes to Court 3. 
 
Tarleton's duo of Ximena Morales/Elif Albayrak was rolling early in the No. 3 bout, taking a 5-0 lead. But UTRGV's sophomore Daniela Rosenberger and freshman Yaiza Vazquez showed incredible grit with the pressure on and took control of the match, winning six consecutive games to take a 6-5 lead before the Texans tied it at 6-6. The pairs went back-and-forth, swapping points mostly behind serve before Morales/Albayrak took the 7-6 (8-6) win to claim the doubles point and the 1-0 advantage. 
 
The singles matches were competitive as well, but Tarleton (9-4) picked up wins by Emma Persson, Makantasi, Albayrak and Sobius to clinch the victory and take a 5-0 lead. 
 
Sophomore Barbara Martinez got the Vaqueros (5-6) on the board with a strong 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 win in her No. 4 match. Souza battled in her No. 3 match but fell 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 to Elsa Boisson. 
 
The Vaqueros visit Abilene Christian for a WAC contest at 11 a.m. Sunday. 
 
Complete Results
Singles 
1. Emma Persson (TSU) def. Isabelle Bahr (UTRGV) 6-3, 6-4
2. Martha Makantasi (TSU) def. Lea Karren (UTRGV) 6-4, 6-4
3. Elsa Boisson (TSU) def. Marjorie Souza (UTRGV) 7-6 (8-6), 7-5  
4. Barbara Martinez (UTRGV) def. Ximena Morales (TSU) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 
5. Elif Albayrak (TSU) def. Yaiza Vazquez (UTRGV) 6-3, 6-2 
6. Clara Sobius (TSU) def. Stefanie Wilske (UTRGV) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0  
 
Doubles (1, 2, 3)  
1. Martha Makantasi/Clara Sobius (TSU) def. Lea Karren/Barbara Martinez (UTRGV) 6-4  
2. Isabelle Bahr/Marjorie Souza (UTRGV) def. Elsa Boisson/Emma Persson (TSU) 6-4  
3. Ximena Morales/Elif Albayrak (TSU) def. Daniela Rosenberger/Yaiza Vazquez (UTRGV) 7-6 (8-6) 

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