SAN ANTONIO – The Lewis-Clark State Women’s Tennis team pushed (RV) LSU Shreveport (La.) to the limit, but lost 4-3 in the quarterfinals of the Red River Conference Tournament at the Blossom Tennis Center on Thursday.
“We may have come up short on the victory but we were victorious in gaining valuable experience again,” Head Coach Kai Fong said. “After being in these NAIA match situations during the last three weeks, the players now realize how good we can get with the right effort and attitude.”
It came down to No. 2 singles as Heidi Moyo and Angela Basto battled in a match that took three hours and 17 minutes to conclude. Moyo was able to win the opening set and made a late charge in the second set to force a tiebreaker, but Basto was able to secure the victory for the Pilots with a 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory.
“We had a very Intense, down to the last match scenario today,” Fong said. “Very proud of how everyone hung in there to give the team a chance to win. Our players have improved. In our February meeting in Alexandria, we were wiped off the court with a 4-0 beating. Hats off to LSUS for getting us today; we battled hard.”
Paige Noble-Lucas kept the Warriors alive with a comeback victory in No. 4 singles. Noble-Lucas bounced back from a first set loss and won in a third-set tiebreaker against Daniela Maldonado 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5). The match took two hours and 21 minutes to finish.
“After Paige won in three sets to pull even the team score to 3-3, the remaining deciding match with Heidi was a nail biter,” Fong explained. “Win or lose, I always hope that each of our players will get the opportunity to play in the deciding match at least once. It is such a good character builder.”
Marina Perez needed just 70 minutes to win in No. 3 singles against Lidia Gomez 6-3, 6-1. Maria Eduarda Santos da Silva dropped only four games in a 6-2, 6-2 victory in No. 6 singles.
“Paige put on a spirited performance despite spending most of yesterday resting,” Fong added. “Maria Silva performed with the consistency of a ball machine, and Marina Perez played with the tenacity of a bull.”
LC State and LSU Shreveport split the six singles matches after the Pilots were able to earn the doubles point. Rayana Shah and Silva lost in No. 1 doubles 6-2 and Moyo and Noble-Lucas took a 6-4 loss in No. 2 doubles.
The Warriors will finish with a 7-20 record after the loss.
Doubles
- Pierina Lescher/Sara Sofia Sanchez Molano (LSUS) def. Rayana Shah/Maria Silva (LCSC) 6-2
- Angela Basto/Lidia Gomez (LSUS) def. Heidi Moyo/Paige Noble-Lucas (LCSC) 6-4
- Daniela Maldonado/Ana Julia De Paula Mandrot (LSUS) vs. Bonolo Molefe/Larissa Couto 5-3 UNF
Singles
- Pierina Lescher (LSUS) def. Rayana Shah (LCSC) 6-1, 6-2
- Angela Basto (LSUS) def. Heidi Moyo (LCSC) 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3
- Marina Perez (LCSC) def. Lidia Gomez (LSUS) 6-3, 6-1
- Paige Noble-Lucas (LCSC) def. Daniela Maldonado (LSUS) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)
- Sara Sofia Sanchez Molano (LSUS) def. Gwyn Heim (LCSC) 6-3, 6-4
- Maria Silva (LCSC) def. Carmen Perez (LSUS) 6-2, 6-2
UP NEXT
The LC State Women’s Tennis will close out the 2023-24 season with a non-team scoring match against Treasure Valley CC at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the LCSC Tennis Center.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.