Women’s tennis fall tournament gives ‘an indication’ of team’s current standing

By Carolina Olivares

Published Oct 19, 2017

Women’s tennis had a successful experience at the HEB Invite in Waco competing against top SEC teams. (Photo by Ray Carlin).

The women’s tennis team competed in its first fall tournament of the season at the HEB Invite in Waco, Texas, Oct. 6-8. Several players experienced the intensity of Division I tennis for the first time. First year players Elizabeth Tedford and Meredith Roberts each made the round of 16 in singles and made the semifinals in doubles as a duo. They defeated Tyler Junior College pair, Oceane Garibal and Millie Khoury 8-6 in Round 16. Moving on to the quarterfinals, they defeated Baylor duo, Angelina Shakhraichuk and Theresa Van Zyl, 8-4. Unfortunately, the Horned Frogs lost to Tyler duo Tamara Arnold and Kalani Soli 8-5 in the Semifinals.

Meredith Roberts at the Big 5 Challenge on Sept. 24 (Photo by Ray Carlin).

Although Roberts lost two close singles matches against SEC players, Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker said it would ultimately improve the her game later on. “It was good for her to experience that and learn what it’s going to take,” Walker said. “It’s more important we learn from them now and keep improving so we can handle that level better in the spring,” First year player Stevie Kennedy also lost to Van Zyl in her first round singles match, learning what it is going to take to play at the Division I level. The Horned Frogs look to bounce back from their losses and will host the ITA Texas Regional Championships Oct. 13-17 at the Baynard H. Friedman Tennis Center.