Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Ladyjacks Clinch Share of SLC Title
4/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Stephen F. Austin 5, Lamar 2
Thompson Family Tennis Center · Beaumont, Texas
Records: SFA (16-6, 10-1 SLC); LU (9-11, 3-7 SLC)
Up Next: Southland Conference Championships ·April 24-26 · Beaumont, Texas
BEAUMONT, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin closed out the 2015 regular season with a 5-2 victory at Lamar, clinching a share of the 2015 Southland Conference regular season title. The Ladyjacks finish the regular season with a 16-9 overall record and a 10-1 mark in SLC play, tying Nicholls for the conference crown.
"I am so proud of this team," said head coach Roberto Aspillaga. "Nothing has been handed to them throughout the year and their will to win has been tremendous all season long. Lamar is peaking late in the year and we had to deal with some of their best tennis today. They played us tough, but our girls were even tougher and I am incredibly proud of that."
With at least a share of the SLC regular season crown on the line, SFA opened up the day with an 8-5 victory by Valeria Terentyeva and Vivienne Kulicke in the No. 3 doubles slot. Julia Lorca and Denise Maxl fell 8-6 in the No. 2 spot but then watched Malena Gordo and Dhanielly Quevedo clinch the doubles point with an 8-6 win at No. 1.
Turning its attention to singles play, Kulicke raced out to a quick victory at the No. 2 spot, earning the 6-3, 6-1 decision. Gordo dropped a 5-7, 3-6 match at No. 1 as Lamar pulled to within a point at 2-1.
The final four matches of the day all went to three sets, beginning with a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 victory by Maxl at the No. 3 spot, followed by a tough three-set loss by Quevedo at the No. 4 spot. Lorca then clinched the match and the regular season title with an 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 win in the No. 6 spot, followed by a tough 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 win by No. 5 Terentyeva.
The victory wraps up the regular season for the Ladyjacks who will be the number two seed in the 2015 SLC tournament this weekend in Beaumont. Nicholls will be the top overall seed due to their 4-3 victory over SFA in Nacogdoches on April 12.
SFA will face the number seven seed (to be determined later) at 2 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Thompson Family Tennis Center in Beaumont. Should the Ladyjacks win the quarterfinal match, the semifinal would be held Saturday, April 25, getting underway at 11 a.m., before the championship match Sunday at 11 a.m.
Stephen F. Austin 5, Lamar 2
Singles Competition
#1 -- Katya Lapayeva (LU) def. Malena Gordo (SFA) 7-5, 6-3
#2 -- Vivienne Kulicke (SFA) def. Andrea Ivanovic (LU) 6-3, 6-1
#3 -- Denise Maxl (SFA) def. Anna Spengler (LU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6
#4 -- Carolina Maso def. Dhanielly Quevedo (SFA) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
#5 -- Valeria Terentyeva (SFA) def. Stephanie Marchena (LU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
#6 -- Julia Lorca (SFA) def. Hanna Elfving (LU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3re
Doubles Competition
#1 -- Malena Gordo/Dhanielly Quevedo (SFA) def. Katya Lapayeva/Carolina Maso (LU) 8-6
#2 -- Andrea Ivanovic/Anna Spengler (LU) def. Julia Lorca/Denise Maxl (SFA) 8-6
#3 -- Valeria Terentyeva/Vivienne Kulicke (SFA) def. Stephanie Marchena/Hanna Elfving (LU) 8-5
-SFA-
Players Mentioned
