MenÕs tennis loses in first round of SBC Tournament, women defeated by North Texas in quarterfinals

By: Timothy Mathis

Troy University tennis teams traveled to Denton, Texas on April 16 to begin the conference tournament.

The seventh-seeded Trojans' played their first and only match Saturday April 18 at 8 a.m. against the Florida Atlantic Owls and lost 4-1.

The Trojans looked good to start the match as they took the doubles point by winning at number one and two.

First at number two Bastian Maucher and Benjamin Chomette defeated FAU's Joshua Scholl and Daniel Vardag, 8-5.

Then the owls took the number three doubles match, but Troy bounced back as Mario Silva and Branko Weber took their match at number one.

Despite taking the doubles point, Troy was unable to hang on as FAU took the first four singles matches to clinch the victory.

The loss brings the Trojans season to a close with a 7-11 record.

The Trojans were 2-8 after their first 10 matches but finished the season winning six of their last nine.

The women's tennis team played their first match of the tournament Friday April 17 against Florida Atlantic.

After a rain delay, the Trojans took the match 4-0, the match was set to take place that morning but it didn't happen until 9 p.m.

The Trojans started things off on the right foot by sweeping the doubles point with wins at numbers one and two.

First, at number one, the duo of Rawia Elsisi and Leonie Guijt defeated Virginia Augustin and Dominique Wimmer, 8-1.

Then, at number two, Stephanie VieiraÊand Mirte De BakkerÊdefeated FAU's Danielle Simone and Erika Mrazkova, 8-5.

Now all the Trojans had to do was win three singles matches to advance to the quarterfinals, and that's what they did, although they weren't easy to come by as three games went to three sets.

The Trojans clinched the match at number two singles where De BakkerÊconvincingly defeated Simone, 6-3, 6-4.

After a day off, the Trojans were set to face off with host team North Texas.

The Mean Green took the doubles point by winning at numbers one and three.Ê

The Trojans were able to tie the match at 1-1 whenÊBarnesÊwon the final match of her career.

She defeated North Texas' Catalina Cruz at number three in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

However, the Mean Green retook the lead when Ranganathan defeated the TrojansÊMirte De BakkerÊat number two, 6-0, 6-4.

The Trojans once again tied the score whenÊGuijtÊdefeated the Mean Green's Dinuta at number four in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

With the match tied up 2-2, North Texas was able to take a 3-2 lead when Paraschiv defeatedÊElsisiÊat number one, 7-6(7-4), 6-4.

North Texas clinched the match with a three set victory at number five when Narine Kazarova defeated Troy'sÊStephanie Vieria, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.

The loss snapped an eight match singles winning streak forÊVieira and was her first loss in singles play since March 3.

The Trojans finished the season with an 11-7 record including a mid-season seven match winning streak.

The Trojans finished as winners of nine of their last 11 matches.

The match marked the final in the careers for three Trojan seniors Rawia Elsisi, Annabelle BaresÊand Caroline Joaunin.