PHOENIX– The UT Arlington women's tennis team (14-7, 4-3 WAC) fell in their final Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season match to champions Grand Canyon 6-1 on Sunday at the GCU Tennis Facility. The Lopes hold the regular season title and a No. 62 ranking from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
 
The Lopes were quick to take the doubles point as the Mavericks struggled to overcome their opponents on each court.
 
Court 2 was the first off as Tara Gorinsek and Mariana Manyoma-Velasquez fell to Valentina Del Marco and Valeriia Krokhotina. The Mavs were able to earn one game before the Lopes took over, closing out the match 6-1 for the first doubles win.
 
Ana Paula Jimenez and Sarina Reinertsen were the next off as Iva Sepa and Elizaveta Morozova clinched the early lead on Court 2. The 6-2 victory gave the Lopes the 1-0 lead before heading into singles play.
 
On Court 1, Bruna Casasampere and Francisca Vergara put up a strong fight against No. 88 ranked doubles team Natasha Puehse and Santa Strombacha but ultimately fell short for their only conference loss. The set came within two games, but Casasampere and Vergara could not close the gap as they fell 6-4. They still hold a 5-1 record in WAC matches.
 
The Mavericks made a valiant effort in singles as they earned a point and forced two deciding sets but could not overcome the Lopes in the end.
 
Reinertsen was the first to fall as Strombacha overpowered her on Court 2 in a straight-set defeat. In the first set, Reinertsen managed two games before Strombacha was able to finish off for the 6-2 win. The second set followed in a similar manner with Reinertsen adding only one game to the score before falling 6-1.
 
Gorinsek responded on Court 1 where she took down No. 96 ranked singles player Puehse in straight sets. The first set gave Gorinsek momentum as she dropped only two games for the 6-2 win. Gorinsek followed up in the second set with a similar performance, allowing only one more game to close out 6-3. The win moves Gorinsek to the win column in WAC play with a 4-3 record.
 
The Lopes bounced back to take the win on Court 3 as Sepa defeated Jimenez despite a strong showing in the second set. Sepa came out strong, allowing Jimenez only one game before closing out the first set 6-1. Jimenez battled hard in the second set as she managed to bring the score to a tiebreaker but eventually fell short 7-6.
 
The defeat was sealed on Court 4 after a hard-fought second set from Manyoma-Velasquez as she fell to Morozova.  Manyoma-Velasquez scored three games in the first set before Morozova was able to close out 6-3. In the second set, Manyoma-Velasquez made a strong push to keep the score even, but ultimatley could not overcome Morozova in the tiebreaker as she fell 7-6.
 
The final two courts were playing out deciding sets when the score was decided, but the Lopes finished with the wins.
 
Casasampere dropped her match on Court 5 after making a strong comeback in the second set. The first set went Krokhotina's way as she allowed Casasampere only two games for the 6-2 lead. Casasampere retaliated in the second set, overcoming Krokhotina by two games for the 6-4 win. In the final set, Casasampere stayed close for three games, but Krokhotina triumphed 6-3.
 
The final match came down to Court 6, where Ioana Dumitrescu took her first loss of the season to Dania Deaifi. Deaifi pulled out the first set by two games, going up 6-4 in the match. Dumitrescu was able to force a decider as she evened the score with a 6-4 win of her own. In the final set, Deaifi finished victorious as she closed out the match 6-3.
 
The Mavericks will compete in the WAC Tournament in Harligen, Texas to start their post season. Play begins on April 18 and ends on April 20 at the HEB Tennis Center at Pendleton Park.
 
UTA 1 No. 62 GCU 6
Doubles

1. No. 88 Natasha Puehse/ Santa Strombacha (GCU) def. Bruna Casasampere/ Francisca Vergara (UTA) 6-4
2. Valentina Del Marco/ Valeriia Krokhotina (GCU) def. Tara Gorinsek/ Mariana Manyoma-Velasquez (UTA) 6-1
3. Iva Sepa/ Elizaveta Morozova (GCU) def. Ana Paula Jimenez/ Sarina Reinertsen (UTA) 6-2

Singles

1. Tara Gorinsek (UTA) def. No. 96 Natasha Puehse (GCU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Santa Strombacha (GCU) def. Sarina Reinertsen (UTA) 6-2, 6-1
3. Iva Sepa (GCU) def. Ana Paula Jimenez (UTA) 6-1, 7-6
4. Elizaveta Morozova (GCU) def. Mariana Manyoma-Velasquez (UTA) 6-3, 7-6
5. Valeriia Krokhotina (GCU) def. Bruna Casasampere (UTA) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
6. Dania Deaifi (GCU) def. Ioana Dumitrescu (UTA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

 
   
 
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