ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Tarleton tennis is off to a 2-0 start to its spring schedule after knocking off Ouachita Baptist 9-0 in its opening match of the OBU Quad Friday night.
 
It is the second straight 9-0 sweep for the TexAnns following last Saturday's season-opening win over Texas Wesleyan in Stephenville. It's the first time since 2012 that Tarleton has started the spring season with back-to-back 9-0 sweeps.
 
"We played smart tennis this evening," said head coach Lance Drake. "I am happy with our execution and our effort, but we have a big challenge ahead of us. We have a short turnaround with an 8 a.m. match tomorrow. It will be a tough challenge for us."
 
Friday's match started when the Tigers put up a fight in the top-two doubles matches of the day.
 
After Ellie Stevens and Shelby Fillingame partnered up to handle the No. 3 match in an 8-0 rout, the TexAnns went on to win the No. 1 and 2 matches, each by the score of 8-4. Luiza Ferraro-Adas and Elena Preadca paired up in the top-seeded match while Ashleigh Elward and Erika Richarme took care of business 8-4 in the No. 2 match to put the TexAnns in a 3-0 driver's seat after doubles action.
 
In singles, Fillingame had the smoothest go of things by handling the No. 4 match 6-0, 6-0. Ferraro-Adas and Preadca won the No. 3 and No. 6 matches, respectively by the score of 6-1, 6-0. Ellie Stevens handled the No. 5 match 6-2, 6-1 while Erika Richarme won the No. 2 match 6-2, 6-2.
 
Ashleigh Elward battled through arguably the toughest match of the day when the sophomore won the top-seeded match by the score of 6-3, 6-2.
 
Tarleton will return to action tomorrow morning with an 8 a.m. match against Southwest Baptist at Ouachita Baptist.