TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Tarleton TexAnn tennis team fell behind 3-0 to Cameron after doubles play and were unable to recover from the deficit, falling 5-4 to the Aggies in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament at Northeastern State Tennis Courts in Tahlequah, Okla., on Thursday.
Tarleton, playing in its eighth straight South Central Regional Tournament, fell in the first round for the first time since 2007.
Doubles play put the TexAnns in an early hole as Mariana Freitas and Rocio Cabanillas dropped their match, 8-3, to Amanda Moberg and Julia Puckhaber. Jade Charlot and Eygeniva Prokofeva couldn't overcome an early deficit in No. 2 doubles, falling, 8-6, to Sara Flores and Daniela Stevenson. Then, Adriana Jaskova and Carole Julen fell, 8-6, as well to Carolina Mullor and Elle Sholles to put the TexAnns in a 3-0 hole heading into singles play.
CU took a commanding 4-0 after Jaskova dropped her set (6-1, 7-5) to Moberg in the first flight of singles play, but Tarleton rallied to tie the match 4- with wins at No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 singles matches.
Cabanillas downed Mullor (6-1, 6-2) in the third flight, while Charlot defeated Flores (6-4, 6-4) in the fourth flight. Julen then downed Sholles (6-2, 6-2) over in the fifth flight before Prokofeva swept Hetaher Doslich (6-0, 6-0) in the sixth flight.
Prokofeva finished out her senior season going 7-0 in singles play and 6-2 in doubles action over the course of the final month and a half of the season.
With the match all square, Freitas came up just short of sending the TexAnns into the next round as she fell (3-6, 6-3, 7-5) to Puckhaber in the second flight.
The win pushes the Aggies into the regional final match where they will take on tournament host Northeastern State.
The TexAnns end the 2010 season with an overall record of 13-8.
CU won all three doubles and No. 1 singles to lead 4-0
Singles competition
1. Amanda Moberg (CAMERON) def. Adriana Jaskova (TARLETON) 6-1, 7-5
2. Julia Puckhaber (CAMERON) def. Mariana Freitas (TARLETON) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
3. Rocio Cabanillas (TARLETON) def. CArolina Mullor (CAMERON) 6-1, 6-2
4. Jade Charlot (TARLETON) def. Sara Flores (CAMERON) 6-4, 6-4
5. Carole Julen (TARLETON) def. Elle Sholles (CAMERON) 6-2, 6-2
6. Jane Prokofeva (TARLETON) def. Heather Doslich (CAMERON) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Amanda Moberg/Julia Puckhaber (CAMERON) def. Mariana Freitas/Rocio Cabanillas (TARLETON) 8-3
2. Sara Flores/Daniela Stevenson (CAMERON) def. Jade Charlot/Jane Prokofeva (TARLETON) 8-6
3. CArolina Mullor/Elle Sholles (CAMERON) def. Adriana Jaskova/Carole Julen (TARLETON) 8-6
