ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Tarleton Tennis showed its toughness in a big way Saturday afternoon as the TexAnns bounced back from a tough loss to the nation's No. 10-ranked team yesterday by knocking off the Central region's No. 6-ranked Arkansas Tech team 5-2.
 
The day started with Ellie Stevens and Shelby Fillingame delivering the first win of the afternoon with an 8-4 doubles win in the No. 3 spot. After the top-seeded doubles match went to the Golden Suns, the Tarleton tandem of Erika Richarme and Ashleigh Elward persevered to win an 8-6 thriller in the No. 2 match to give Tarleton the advantage heading into singles.
 
"It was great for the team to get a win against last year's (Great American Conference) favorites," said head coach Lance Drake. "We showed a lot of courage today by bouncing back from yesterday's loss. We came out today and continued to improve, especially in doubles play."
 
Erika Richarme got singles under way with a 6-1, 7-5 win in the No. 2 position and, after Arkansas Tech stole the No. 3 match from Luiza Ferraro-Adas 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, Elward and Fillingame polished off the match. Elward won the top-seeded match 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 while Fillingame took the No. 4 match 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.
 
"Shelby clinched the match for us with a close three-setter and the top of the lineup showed their strength," said Drake. "We fought really hard and the result came in our favor. We just need to keep working hard and improving every day."
 
Tarleton will return to action on Feb. 26 with a visit to Ada, Oklahoma for a 2 p.m. match against East Central.