- Tennis Stats

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Tennis dropped a tight, in-region contest this afternoon to Texas-Permian Basin 4-5 in the season and home opener at the Potishman-Lard Tennis Courts.
 
"Our youth showed today and we missed out on some golden opportunities in the match," said head coach Lance Drake. "We have to learn how to rise to the occasion, be aware of situations, become mentally tougher and play with a passion.
 
"Coach (Steve) Buck had his UTPB group ready and came in with a determination to win and they just played better than we did today," he continued. "I am disappointed in the loss, but there were some positive performances. We need to learn from this match and make ourselves better."
 
Doubles play started with a pair of Tarleton wins from the No. 1 pair of Luiza Ferraro-Adas and Ashleigh Elward 8-6 and the No. 3 pairing of Ariadna Cabezas-Marti and Erika Richarme 8-4. Gabriella Jansson and Ellie Stevens dropped the No. 2 match 2-8.
 
"Our No. 3 doubles got us off on the right track," said Drake. "The No. 2 duo from UTPB won some tough games to stretch the lead and even the match at 1-1. Adas and Elward made a comeback in their match to give us a 2-1 lead after doubles."
 
In singles play, Richarme made her spring collegiate debut with a 6-1, 6-1 win in the No. 1 match while fellow freshman, Ashleigh Elward, won the No. 3 match 6-4, 6-1.
 
Stevens (2-6, 2-6), Ferraro-Adas (5-7, 4-6), Jansson (4-6, 7-6, 5-7) and Cabezas-Marti (1-6, 2-6) dropped the No. 2, 4, 5 and 6 matches, respectively.
 
Tarleton State will return to action Thursday against Henderson State to begin the Ouachita Quad in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.