Women's Tennis Falls Short to SMU, 4-2

Sunday, March 25

New Orleans

Noon

Tulane University

SMU

Photo by: Parker Waters

Mar 25, 2018 | Women's Tennis

NEW ORLEANS - The Tulane women's tennis team found itself in a seesaw battle, but fell just short, 4-2, to SMU on Sunday afternoon at the City Park Pepsi Tennis Center.

"I'm proud of every single girl on this team for how they competed all the way until the end," head coach Maria Brito said. "It was almost a four hour match and we were right there. It could have gone either way, but it comes down to closing things out."

In doubles, Tulane held a 5-4 lead at the No. 3 spot, but SMU took control with a pair of breaks to win, 6-3, at the No. 1 position and 6-4 at the No. 2 position to take a 1-0 overall lead heading into singles.

The Green Wave responded early in singles to get the momentum pendulum swinging, as junior Elena Muller cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory on court five to tie the match, 1-1. The Mustangs countered however, earning a 6-2, 7-5 win on court three to reclaim the lead.

Tulane tied the match again when Christina Sisti closed out Charline Anselmo on court six, 6-4, 6-2, but SMU responded once more, this time with a straight set victory on court two to pull back in front, 3-2, on the team scoreboard.

The final two matches - courts one and four - split sets in the first two, respectively. Daniela La Fuente earned a tough, 7-6(3) first set win, but dropped the second, 6-3, before taking a 5-4 lead in the third. Sade Atkinson dropped her first frame, 6-3, but rebounded, 7-5, in the second set, before falling, 6-4, in the third as the Mustangs clinched the victory.

"Mental toughness is what's going to make the difference for us," Brito said. "I truly believe it will happen, but that can't define who we are as a team. This week, we're going to be focusing on closing out matches. We'll be doing individual work and making sure we're doing the right things."

Tulane remains at home to host three matches next weekend, beginning Friday, March 30 at 1 p.m., against UL Monroe, before hosting a doubleheader for Senior Day on Saturday against Southern Miss and Southern University at noon and 3 p.m., respectively. The Green Wave will hold a ceremony between the two matches to honor Sade Atkinson and Sofia Kurtz.

SMU 4, Tulane 2

Singles competition
1. Liza Buss (SMU) def. Sade Atkinson (TLN) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
2. Karina Traxler (SMU) def. Ivone Alvaro (TLN) 6-0, 7-5
3. Ana Perez-Lopez (SMU) def. Laura Fabrizi (TLN) 6-2, 7-5
4. Daniela La Fuente (TLN) vs. A. Shapovalova (SMU) 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 5-6, unfinished
5. Elena Muller (TLN) def. S. Monarrez Yesaki (SMU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Christina Sisti (TLN) def. Charline Anselmo (SMU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Karina Traxler/S. Monarrez Yesaki (SMU) def. Sade Atkinson/Laura Fabrizi (TLN) 6-3
2. Liza Buss/Ana Perez-Lopez (SMU) def. Ivone Alvaro/Elena Muller (TLN) 6-4
3. Daniela La Fuente/Sofia Kurtz (TLN) vs. A. Shapovalova/Tiffany Hollebeck (SMU) 5-4, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,3,6,2,1)
T-3:33