SAN ANGELO – In the first-ever tennis match between Tarleton and Angelo State as NCAA rivals, the TexAnns pulled off a thrilling 5-4 win as
Alicia Barbaroux rallied back to win a 6-1 third set in the clincher.
Tarleton improves to 8-7 on the second and 3-1 in Lone Star Conference play while No. 36 Angelo State, which is in its first season since the program was reinstated after a 30-year hiatus, falls to 14-6 and 3-2 in league play.
The afternoon got started as the TexAnns jumped out to a 2-1 lead after three tight doubles matches.
Sherine Salem and
Alicia Barbaroux gave Tarleton its first point with a 9-7 win in the No. 1 spot. After Angelo tied the score with a win in the No. 2 match,
Shelby Fillingame and
Chrystalynn Shirley battled to a 9-8 win in the No. 3 to give the TexAnns an edge heading into singles.
Angelo State evened the score with a win in No. 6. Then the teams traded victories with Tarleton winning with Fillingame at No. 5 (6-3, 6-0) and
Neetika Sud at No. 2 (6-3, 6-0) and Angelo State winning at No. 3 and 4, leaving the match in the hands of the No. 1 pairing. Sud's win was an upset of the No. 63 player in the nation, Maria Delgadillo.
Alicia Barbaroux was deadlocked in a battle with No. 62 Ena Ovcina.
Barbaroux took the first set 6-4 before Ovcina answered back with a 7-6 win in the second. Tarleton's Barbaroux responded with a 6-1 win in the third to clinch the match for the TexAnns.
The complete results are as follows:
DOUBLES
1.
Sherine Salem/
Alicia Barbaroux (TSU) def. Ena Ovcina/Maria Delgadillo (ASU) 9-7
2. Zoë Gubbels/Virginie Becht (ASU) def.
Erika Johnston/
Neetika Sud (TSU) 9-7
3.
Shelby Fillingame/
Chrystalynn Shirley (TSU) def. Lucie Maitrot/Yasmine Ansari (ASU) 9-8
SINGLES
1.
Alicia Barbaroux (TSU) def. #62 Ena Ovcina (ASU) 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
2.
Neetika Sud (TSU) def. #63 Maria Delgadillo (ASU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Yasmine Ansari (ASU) def.
Sherine Salem (TSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Zoë Gubbels (ASU) def.
Erika Johnston (TSU) 6-3, 6-3
5.
Shelby Fillingame (TSU) def. Virginie Becht (ASU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Lucie Maitrot (ASU) def.
Chrystalynn Shirley (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
Tarleton will hit the road again on Friday with a road trip to Western New Mexico for a Lone Star Conference match.
