GEORGETOWN, Texas – In less than 24 hours, the East Texas Baptist University women's tennis team completed their sweep through Central Texas to stay undefeated on the year at 8-0. On Saturday, ETBU started off with a 9-0 shutout over Mary Hardin-Baylor and then won on a last match over Southwestern University, 5-4. The 8-0 start continues to be the best in program history.
ETBU 5, Southwestern 4
Playing on host Southwestern's courts, where ETBU had great success in the fall at the ITA regional championships, the Tigers held off the Pirates, 5-4. It came down to a 6-3, 6-4, win by Mullika Seekieo over Maranda Kahl at no. 6 singles for the win.
The match started off with ETBU trailing, 2-1, after the doubles matches. Kayla Casey and Kate Bramlett earned the only win at no. 1 doubles over Anna Schneemann and Emilie Moeller, 8-2. Elizabeth Morton and Tiffany Stankiewicz fell at no. 2 doubles, 8-6, and Jabree McClaine and Sierra Pizarro also fell, 8-6, at no. 3 doubles.
Southwestern went up 3-1 after Staniewicz lost at no.2 singles, 6-1, 6-4 to Drews-Jones. Southwestern then had a 4-1 lead taking the no. 4 singles match, 6-4, 6-1, as McClaine fell. At this point, ETBU rallied and won the next four matches for the win. Kellie Cawthon won 6-3, 6-3 over Nicole Wilson for the second point followed by a Bramlett win at no.3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a very close knit match over Martinez for the third point. Casey gained the tying point at four in no.1 singles, 6-2, 6-3 over Schneemann and then Seekhieo won the final match to take the victory.
ETBU 9, UMHB 0
In the morning, ETBU defeated host University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), 9-0, at the Yvonne Li Tennis Center in Belton, Texas. The victory marked the team's seventh win in as many matches this season. Meanwhile, Mary Hardin-Baylor goes to 0-1.
To start the action, ETBU went ahead, 3-0, as it swept all three doubles flights, losing a combined two games in those matches. The nationally-ranked doubles pairing of Kate Bramlett and Kayla Casey won the top-seeded doubles match, 8-0, while Elizabeth Morton and Tiffany Stankiewicz claimed an 8-1 victory in the No. 2 doubles flight. Lastly, Jabree McClaine and Sierra Pizarro were 8-1 winners in the third-seeded doubles match.
Now needing a pair of points to clinch the match victory, ETBU also claimed all six singles flights. Casey won 6-0, 6-0, in the No. 1 singles match, and Stankiewicz topped her opponent, 6-2, 6-0, in the second-seeded singles flight. Kellie Cawthon was a 6-3, 6-1 winner in No. 3 singles, while Mullika Seekhieo claimed a 6-0, 6-5 victory in the fourth-seeded singles flight. Sierra Pizarro won her No. 5 singles match, 6-3, 6-2, and Morton was a 6-2, 6-1 winner in the sixth-seeded singles match.
ETBU is now off until March 12th when they will face regionally ranked Texas Lutheran in Seguin, Texas.
