EDINBURG – Playing at the home court of current conference rival UTRGV, Tarleton made a WAC-wide statement by topping future league foe Lamar 6-1 for the first women's tennis win of its NCAA Division I era.
 
"It's a great day for the Texans," said head coach Elianne Miron. "Being able to get our first D1 win against a team who will be joining our conference was very encouraging. It was a highly competitive match, and everyone stayed tough throughout the whole day.
 
"Martha (Makantasi) and Elsa (Boisson) got us started with a big first win in doubles and both of them kept it going in singles," she added. "Then Rose (Watanabe) provided the clinch point for us in singles, so it was an exciting day from our freshman class. I am so happy about where we are as a team and looking forward to getting back to action tomorrow."
 
Boisson and Makantasi wasted no time in giving Tarleton the doubles advantage with a 6-1 win in the third flight. The top-seeded tandem of Mihaela Codreanu and Jemi Aguilar clinched the point with a 6-3 win in the No. 1 flight.
 
Aguilar polished off the first singles point of the day with a 6-4, 6-4 win in the No. 2 flight. Then the Texan freshmen finished out the final points in the Tarleton win. True freshmen Makantasi (7-5, 6-4), Boisson (6-4, 5-7, 10-6) and Rose Watanabe (6-1, 6-4) won the No. 3, 4 and 6 flights, respectively, while second-year freshman on the court Celia Vaudiau completed her second consecutive singles win with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the No. 5 flight.
 
The complete match results are as follows:
 
DOUBLES
1. Mihaela Codreanu/Jemi Aguilar (TAR) def. Bianca Vitale/Natalia Molina (LU) 6-3
2. Elena Rodriguez/Alba Perez (LU) def. Celia Vaudiau/Rose Watanabe (TAR) 7-5
3. Martha Makantasi/Elsa Boisson (TAR) def. Jayci Wong/Elena Rubio (LU) 6-1
 
SINGLES
1. Bianca Vitale (LU) def. Mihaela Codreanu (TAR) 6-3, 1-6, 6-0
2. Jemi Aguilar (TAR) def. Natalia Molina (LU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Martha Makantasi (TAR) def. Elena Rodriguez (LU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Elsa Boisson (TAR) def. Alba Perez (LU) 6-4, 5-7, 10-6
5. Celia Vaudiau (TAR) def. Ana Jolic (LU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Rose Watanabe (TAR) def. Elena Rubio (LU) 6-1, 6-4
 
Tarleton will stay in Edinburg and begin conference play tomorrow against UT Rio Grande Valley.