By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Ben Boynton)
The No. 13 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide women’s tennis team lost to No. 17 Texas Tech 4-1 in its final consolation match at the ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship.
The Crimson Tide led all three doubles matches early, and took the first set 6-1 with freshman Andie Daniell and junior Erin Routliffe earning the win. However, the Red Raiders stormed back, taking down juniors Danielle Spielmann and Joanna Nena Savva 6-4. Texas Tech earned the doubles point by defeating senior Natalia Maynetto and sophomore Aryn Greene 6-4.
Texas Tech earned its second point with Sarah Dvorak beating Savva 6-0, 6-0. Felicity Maltby put Alabama in a 3-0 hole by earning a win over Greene 6-2, 6-2.
Alabama refused to go down without a fight, with Daniell cruising past Lynn Kiro 6-1, 6-2 to give the Crimson Tide its first and only point of the match. However, Texas Tech clinched the victory with Alex Valenstein’s 6-3, 6-3 victory over Spielmann.
The loss drops Alabama to 2-3 on the year, and continues a three game losing streak. The team suffered its second consecutive loss in the ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship Saturday, falling 4-1 to No. 10 Oklahoma State in a consolation match.
The Cowgirls took the doubles point, with Alabama sophomores Bennett Dunn and Aryn Greene falling 6-1, and juniors Joanna Nena Savva and Danielle Spielmann coming up short 6-4.
Alabama got off to a slow start in singles play against North Carolina, and the match against Oklahoma State was no different. The Cowgirls took five of the six first sets, with only freshman Andie Daniell winning a first set for the Crimson Tide.
Oklahoma State earned their second point with Kelsey Laurente taking down Spielmann 6-2, 6-1. Viktoriya Lushkova made it a 3-0 lead by defeating Savva 6-3, 6-4.
Daniell earned Alabama’s only point by defeating Oklahoma State’s Vladica Babic 6-4, 6-3. The win was the freshman’s first over a ranked opponent in a dual match in her young career.
Oklahoma State finished off the match with Katarina Stresnakova’s 6-1, 7-6 (6) triumph over Crimson Tide senior Natalia Maynetto.
The Crimson Tide will be back in action Monday, February 15 when it travels to Charlottesville, Virginia. There, Alabama will take on No. 7 Virginia in a big match, starting at 3 p.m. CT.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
