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Tarleton State University Athletics

KuscuNMStRecap
3
New Mexico State NMSU (0-2)
4
Winner Tarleton State TSU (1-0)
New Mexico State NMSU
(0-2)
3
Final
4
Tarleton State TSU
(1-0)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Tennis clinches victory New Mexico State in spring opener

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Tennis was victorious in its spring opener, coming out on top 4-3 over Conference USA's New Mexico State on Thursday at the Tarleton Tennis Facility. 

Freshmen Duru Kuscu and Maria Castano came up with wins in their Tarleton State spring debuts while junior Clara Sobius also came out on top in singles to lift the Texans to victory. 

The win makes it the second consecutive year Tarleton State has won its spring opener. 

"I'm very proud of the match today," head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron said. "We competed hard and came out strong. New Mexico State is always a very tough team to play, so I'm happy we dug deep to win that match. I'm so happy for Maria and Duru to get their first win individually as a Texan. They really fought hard and I can't wait to watch them play on Saturday." 

The Texans got the early lead in the match, clinching the doubles point with victories from Maretha Burger/Emma Persson and Castano/Sobius. Burger, who played the No. 1 doubles position in all 21 matches last year, clinched her 16th Tarleton State victory in doubles. 

While New Mexico State trailed early in the match, the Aggies did not back down. After losing the first set at the No. 1, 3, and 6 six spots, the Aggies climbed back to clinch the singles wins in three sets. 

After Sobius took care of business with a straight sets singles victory, it was Tarleton State's dynamic freshmen duo's turn to shine on the purple hard courts. 

Going back and forth with New Mexico State's Lisa Zhu, Kuscu was knotted up in the first set at 6-6. The Turkish freshman dug deep in the tiebreak, clinching the final game to take set one. Kuscu grabbed the upper hand in the tightly-contested second set, finishing with a 7-5 set two victory to take the straight sets win. 

Castano trailed early in her match in the No. 4 singles slot, falling in the first set. The freshman, however, persevered and weathered the storm to climb all the way back. The Dominican Republic native won set two with ease 6-1 before clinching the come-from-behind victory in the third set 6-4 to seal the win for the Texans. 

Tarleton State Tennis returns to action on Saturday for a doubleheader at the Tarleton Tennis Facility. The Texans will face Lubbock Christian in the first match at 10 a.m. before taking on Collin College at 12 p.m. Admission is free for Tarleton State Tennis matches. 
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