Lady Tiger tennis team opens with wins over a pair of NCAA Division II squads

Coming off a national runner-up finish at last year's NJCAA Division I Women's National Tennis Tournament, the Cowley College women's tennis team opened the 2024 season in impressive style by knocking off a pair of NCAA Division II schools Saturday and Sunday in San Antonio, TX.

On Saturday, the Lady Tigers jumped out to the early lead against St. Mary's University by winning the doubles point as they won two of the three doubles matches. Then,  all six singles matches were decided in straight sets, with Cowley winning at No. 1, 2, and 4 and the Rattlers bringing home victories at No. 3, 5, and 6.

Cowley's Yerke Arystanbekova and Arina Babenko were victorious in both doubles and singles, as was Zuzanna Witkowska.

On Sunday, Cowley won all three doubles matches before winning three of six singles matches against the University of Incarnate Word. Former Lady Tiger tennis player Isid Hernandez is currently a member of the Cardinals.

Against Incarnate Word, Cowley got singles and doubles wins from Arystanbekova, Witkowska, and Mariana Jimenez.

"It was important for us to start the season in the right direction," Cowley head coach Ari Raga said.

Cowley will remain on the road to face NCAA Division I Tarleton State Friday at 11 a.m. before facing NCAA Division II University of Central Oklahoma Sunday at 2 p.m. in Edmond, OK.

"We will continue to work hard to bring home more wins," Raga said.

Results vs. St. Mary's:

WOMEN

*No. 1 – Yerke Arystanbekova and Arina Babenko (CC) defeated
Karen Kondo and Selina Wu (STMU) 6-3.

*No. 2 – Silvia Fernandez and Zuzanna Witkowska (CC) defeated
Paula Garrote and Alessia Terlizzi (STMU) 6-3.

*No. 3 – Bailey Godwin and Kyndall Quiroz (STMU) defeated
Mariana Jimenez and Akari Tomoyose (CC) 7-6 (7-5).

SINGLES

*No. 1 – Arystanbekova (CC) defeated Selina Wu (STMU) 6-4, 6-3.

*No. 2 – Arina Babenko (CC) defeated Paula Garrote (STMU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

*No. 3 – Alessia Terlizzi (STMU) defeated Akari Tomoyose (CC) 7-5, 6-3.

*No. 4 – Zuzanna Witkowska (CC) defeated Karen Kondo (STMU) 6-4, 6-3.

*No. 5 – Stela Sifuentes (STMU) defeated Mariana Jimenez (CC) 6-2, 6-3.

*No. 6 – Kyndall Quiroz (STMU) defeated Silvia Fernandez (CC) 6-1, 6-3.

Results vs. Incarnate Word:

*No. 1 – Yerke Arystanbekova and Arina Babenko (CCCC) defeated Estefania Gonzalez/Isid Hernandez (UIW) 6-3.

*No. 2 – Mariana Jimenez/Serena Pereyra (CC) defeated Sofia Franco Salcedo/Ine Lamprecht (UIW) 6-1.

*No. 3 – Zuzanna Witkowska/Silvia Fernandez (CC) defeated Jordyn Isaak/Barbara Havlova (UIW) 6-3.

SINGLES

*No. 1 – Salcedo (UIW) defeated Pereyra (CC) 6-3, 6-4.

*No. 2 – Arystanbekova (CC) defeated Gonzalez (UIW) 7-6 (9-7).

*No. 3 – Hernandez (UIW) defeated Babennko (3-6, 7-5, injury default.

*No. 4 – Lamprecht (UIW) defeated Tomoyose (CC) 6-1, 6-3.

*No. 5 – Witkowska (CC) defeated Jordyn Isaak (UIW) 6-0, 6-3.

*No. 6 – Jimenez (CC) defeated Havlova (UIW) 6-1, 6-2.