Texas Tech Athletics
New Mexico State
No. 16 Texas Tech Advances To The Second Round
May 08, 2015 | Women's Tennis
May 8, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Home court advantage means a lot in the NCAA Championships, which was never more present than when No. 16 Texas Tech dispatched New Mexico State, 4-0, on Friday in the first round of the event at the McLeod Tennis Center.The Lady Raiders are now a school-record 13-1 at home this season and 49-5 over the last five seasons.
Texas Tech (20-6), who tied a school record by recording the school's 20th win of the season, advanced to face No. 22 LSU (20-10) in the second round with the win. The Lady Raiders and Tigers will meet at noon on Saturday at the McLeod Tennis Center. The match was originally scheduled for 3 p.m., but has been moved to avoid expected high winds later in the day.
"I thought we played well. I thought we handled the first round nerves and pressure really well," said seventh-year head coach Todd Petty. "The energy was really good in the doubles, I thought it slipped a little in the singles, but they were composed and professional about how they approached the match. They did what they needed to do."
Texas Tech jumped out early in doubles and never looked back, as Lynn Kiro and Sabrina Federici rolled past Ashvarya Shrivistava and Denise Van Der Ben of New Mexico State, 8-1, at No. 2 Sarah Dvorak and Katelyn Jackson were just seconds behind, as the No. 3 tandem dropped Gabrielle Joyce and Rimpledeep Kaur, 8-1, to secure the first point of the day.
"We've got depth one through eight. We can substitute our bottom part in and we have two players that are ready to play any day," said Petty. "We're a pretty even balanced team. There not much difference between our one and our six. We count on different people every time we play. This time it was the bottom part of the lineup and doubles. Tomorrow it might be the top part of the lineup and doubles. You never know who you're going to need to come through for you."
The Lady Raiders then snagged five of six first sets to start singles. Three of the Lady Raider freshmen picked up points to close out the match, as No. 124 Federici ousted Erika Castilllo Lopez, 6-0, 6-1. Jackson then throttled Mia Brandt, 6-0, 6-3, to give Texas Tech a quick 3-0 lead.
The Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Gabriela Talaba, clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Susan Alcaraz at No. 2 and Texas Tech won 4-0 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships for just the second time in program history.
The Lady Raiders have now won 20 matches in a season for a third time, joining the 1988 (20-4) and 2013 (20-7) teams.
The day at the McLeod Tennis Center started with a 90-minute lightning delay. No. 22 LSU then used a little over three hours to put away No. 57 New Mexico, 4-0, in the first match of the day.
After a hard-fought doubles point, the Tigers picked up wins at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 to cruise into the second round.
"I got to see a little bit of LSU," said Petty. "They're so good. They're talented and well coached. They're a very similar team to us. I think one through six they are a tough out. They match up with us well. I think it's going to be a great fight, which it should be for the second round of the NCAA tournament."
Texas Tech is looking to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history. The winner on Saturday between Texas Tech and LSU will punch their ticket for Waco, which begins on May 15 at the Hurd Tennis Center.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
FIRST ROUND
#16 Texas Tech 4, New Mexico State 0
May 08, 2015 at Lubbock, Texas (McLeod Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #70 Kenna Kilgo (TT) vs. Ashvarya Shrivistava (NMSU) 3-6, 3-2, unfinished
2. Gabriela Talaba (TT) def. Susana Alcaraz (NMSU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Sarah Dvorak (TT) vs. Rimpledeep Kaur (NMSU) 6-3, 3-2, unfinished
4. #73 Lynn Kiro (TT) vs. Denise Van Der Ben (NMSU) 6-1, 5-1, unfinished
5. #124 Sabrina Federici (TT) def. Erika Castillo Lopez (NMSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Katelyn Jackson (TT) def. Mia Brandt (NMSU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles
1. #34 Kenna Kilgo / Gabriela Talaba (TT) vs. Susana Alcaraz / Erika Castillo Lopez (NMSU) 6-3, unfinished
2. Lynn Kiro / Sabrina Federici (TT) def. Ashvarya Shrivistava / Denise Van Der Ben (NMSU) 8-1
3. Sarah Dvorak / Katelyn Jackson (TT) def. Gabrielle Joyce / Rimpledeep Kaur (NMSU) 8-1
Records: New Mexico State 13-11; #16 Texas Tech 20-6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,6,2)
T-2:04 A-417
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
FIRST ROUND
#22 LSU 4, #57 New Mexico 0
May 08, 2015 at Lubbock, Texas (McLeod Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #29 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Emily Olivier (UNM) 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-2
2. #68 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) vs. Natasha Smith (UNM) 6-3, 4-6, 5-0, unfinished
3. Abigail Owens (LSU) def. Meredith Hopson (UNM) 6-0, 6-1
4. Noel Scott (LSU) vs. Dominique Dulski (UNM) 1-6, 6-3, 5-6, unfinished
5. Ella Taylor (LSU) vs. Sharon Coone (UNM) 1-6, 6-4, 5-3, unfinished
6. Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Rachana Bhat (UNM) 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. #33 Joana Vale Costa / Noel Scott (LSU) def. Dominique Dulski / Natasha Smith (UNM) 8-4
2. Sharon Coone / Emily Olivier (UNM) def. Skylar Kuykendall / Abigail Owens (LSU) 8-6
3. Skylar Holloway / Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Rachana Bhat / Susan Baklini (UNM) 8-6
Records: #57 New Mexico 16-10; #22 LSU 20-10.
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,1)
Notes: There was a 90 minute delay due to lightning
T-3:20 A-346
Players Mentioned
