FHSU Athletics
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Fort Hays State defeated Bethel College 5-2 on Saturday in the first dual match of the 2026-27 season. The Tigers won two of three doubles matches and added singles victories at positions 2, 4, 5 and 6.
The Tigers earned the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Albany Pulido and Sandra Rodriguez opened with a 6-2 win over Sara Ladino and Daniela Casique at No. 1 before Olivia Goldsack and Ximena Raya knocked off Charlie Stirling and Caelie Cox 6-3 at No. 2. Madeline Deters and Janae Montoya then clinched the point for the Tigers with a 6-4 victory over Camila Lopez and Jireh Gonzalez at No. 3.
Bethel pulled even to start singles when Casique defeated Stirling 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. The Tigers answered in the next three completed matches, with Mekenzy Clark beating Lopez 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6, Cox defeating Gonzalez 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-2) at No. 5 and Pulido clinching the match with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Goldsack at No. 4. After the clinch, Bethan Gill added a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 victory over Ladino at No. 2 singles. Raya closed the scoring for Bethel with a tight 7-5, 7-5 win over Rodriguez at No. 3.
Kali Keough, Sydney Schumaker, and Diana Sousa all were victorious in exhibition singles matches. Keough and Sousa paired for an exhibition doubles win.
Fort Hays State will host Hastings College in its first home event of the season on Thursday, September 17 at 1 p.m.