Lady Tiger tennis team comes up just short in loss to top-ranked Apaches

Facing the defending national champion and top-ranked Tyler Junior College Apaches Saturday in Tyler, TX, the No. 3-ranked Cowley College women's tennis team battled hard in the 6-3 defeat.

The Apaches, which have won three of the past four national tournaments, won two of three doubles matches before taking four of six singles matches.

"We felt we had a chance to steal some more wins, but ended up losing some close matches," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "With four freshmen in the lineup, they are learning every day."

Cowley got wins from Saara Kunakunova and Tshegofatso Tsiang at No. 3 doubles, while Tsiang and Mariia Koroleva earned victories in singles' play.

The Lady Tigers will now have some time to work on things before hosting matches on March 21 and 22^nd. Cowley will face Southwest Baptist College on Monday, March 21 before hosting Newman University on Tuesday, March 22. Both matches will begin at 2 p.m. and be played at the Arkansas City High School.

"It will be fun to play at home," Raga said. "Hopefully, this will give us even more confidence."

DOUBLES

*No. 1 - Isid Hernandez & Ntokozo Zungu (CC) lost to L. Anzalotta & D. Martins (TJC) 1-8.

*No. 2 - Camila Neyra & Mariia Koroleva (CC) lost to A. Wild & K. Arends (TJC) 3-8.

*No. 3 - Saara Kunakunova & Tshegofatso Tsiang (CC) defeated H. Shah & Y. Kononovych (TJC) 8-0.

SINGLES

*No. 1 - Isid Hernandez (CC) lost to L. Anzalotta (TJC) 1-6, 4-6.

*No. 2 - Ntokozo Zungu (CC) lost to D. Martins (TJC) 1-6, 4-6.

*No. 3 - Saara Kunakunova (CC) lost to K. Arends (TJC) 2-6, 2-6.

*No. 4 - Tshegofatso Tsiang (CC) defeated A. Wild (TJC) 7-5, 6-1.

*No. 5 - Camila Neyra (CC) lost to Y. Kononovych 1-6, 2-6.

*No. 6 - Mariia Koroleva (CC) defeated Y. Kramarova (TJC) 6-3, 7-6(5).