FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Tennis had a chance for a late rally back in singles play against Newman University in the MIAA opener on Friday at the FHSU Tennis Courts. Down 3-1 in the match, the Tigers forced a decisive third set in three singles matches and took two of the three, falling just a point short in a 4-3 loss to the Jets on Friday. Newman moved to 11-6 overall, 1-0 MIAA, while FHSU moved to 6-5 overall, 0-1 MIAA.
The Tigers served notice they were going to give the Jets a fight early on when they won two of three doubles matches to take the first team point of the match. The No. 1 team of Shreethika Vangala and Fiorella Mendez, and the No. 2 team of Irina Alfonso and Ines Latorre were victorious. Vangala and Mendez posted a 6-3 win and the doubles team point came down to Alfonso and Latorre's match, which they won 7-6 by taking a tiebreak 7-3. The No. 3 team of Yone Pereiro and Grace Unruh put up a fight at No. 3, falling in a competitive 6-4 match.
Pereiro and Unruh would bounce back for the Tigers in singles play as the two that took their matches to make the final score just a one-point margin. After the Jets claimed the first three singles matches to complete and take a 3-1 lead, Pereiro, Unruh, and Mendez all went to third sets with a chance to give the Tigers a dramatic comeback, which they nearly pulled off.
Pereiro (No. 3 position) won her first set 6-4 and fell in the second set 6-2, but stormed back for a 6-4 win in the third. Unruh (No. 6 position) bounced back from a 6-2 first-set loss to win by the same score in the second and third sets. Mendez (No. 5) fell 6-4 in the first and bounced back with a 6-3 win to force the final set, but fell 6-1 in the decisive frame.
Vangala (No. 1), Alfonso (No. 2), and Latorre (No. 4) all fell in straight sets in singles. Alfonso generated the most points by winning two in each set against her opponent.
Heidi Lubbers and Hope Lubbers played an exhibition doubles match and fell 6-4. Bethan Gill and Ines Steeman each played exhibition singles matches. Gill lost 7-6 (7-4) and Steeman lost 6-3.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State has an opportunity to bounce back from their hard-fought loss on Saturday when they play host to Emporia State at 11 a.m. The Hornets will enter at 3-6 overall, 0-1 in the MIAA.