Austin, Texas - Sophomore
Maria Belaya highlighted the No. 62-ranked William and Mary
women's tennis team's effort at No. 9 Texas on Thursday afternoon, knocking a
top-30 nationally ranked singles opponent in the College's 5-1 setback at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center. With
the threat of inclement weather in the Austin area, the teams decided to open play
with singles, and after the Longhorns won five of six matches, doubles was
canceled. The Green and Gold fell to 3-9 on the season, while Texas won its
third straight in improving to 6-3.
After dropping the opening set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (2), to
No. 30-ranked Aeriel Ellis, Belaya bounced back to take the second set, 6-3, at
the No. 1 singles post. In the third-set super tiebreaker, the Tribe sophomore
rolled to a 10-5 win over Ellis, who was coming off a three-set win over the
No. 20-ranked player in the country from Northwestern and owns a three-set win
over the No. 2-ranked player from Georgia. Belaya, who upended the highest
ranked opponent of her young career, evened her season mark at 8-8, including a
7-4 dual-match ledger. She won for the fourth time in her last five matches and
knocked off the highest ranked singles opponent for a W&M player since
2008.
Along with Belaya's victory at the No. 1 singles post,
sophomore
Jeltje Loomans narrowly missed a three-set win at the No. 2 position.
She jumped out to the early advantage, downing Krista Damico, 6-3, in the
opening set. The Longhorn player took the second set, 6-4, and outlasted
Loomans in the third-set super tiebreaker, 11-9. Damico entered the match with
two straight wins over national top 60 ranked singles players.
The Tribe returns home to face No. 71 Wisconsin on Sunday,
March 11. The match is slated for an 11 a.m. start time at the
Millie West
Tennis Facility, weather permitting.
#9 Texas 5, #62 William and Mary 1
Singles
No. 1 -
Maria Belaya (W&M) def. #30 Aeriel Ellis (Texas)
- 6-7 (2), 6-3, 10-5
No. 2 - Krista Damico (Texas) def.
Jeltje Loomans (W&M)
- 3-6, 6-4, 11-9
No. 3 - #87 Noel Scott (Texas) def.
Kayla Rizzolo (W&M)
- 6-3, 6-1
No. 4 - Lina Padegimaite (Texas) def.
Hope Johnson (W&M)
- 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 - Cierra Gayta-Leach (Texas) def.
Anik Cepeda
(W&M) - 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 - Elizabeth Begley (Texas) def.
Katie Kargl (W&M)
- 6-1, 6-1
Finishing Order: 5, 6, 3, 4*, 2, 1
No Doubles
