LYNCHBURG, Va. – For the second time in two weeks the Sam Houston women's tennis team rallied late in to earn a dual match victory as the Bearkats defeated George Washington, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Liberty University's tennis facility.
The Revolutionaries opened with the doubles point win, then they picked up two singles victories to go up 3-0, just one point away from taking the match.
Freshman India Fenieys, sophomore Linn Svaerd, senior Paula Cerda and sophomore Vianne Schwab each won their singles in straight sets to pace the come-from-behind team win. In the decisive singles match Schwab rallied from 3-5 down to take the third set 7-5 in the decisive victory.
"Just like in our match last week in Huntsville, the way our players battled back was so impressive," Bearkat head coach Rob Hubbard said. "The determination they showed was awesome."
The 4-3 win evens the Bearkats record this season at 7-7. Last week, in Sam Houston's Conference USA opener the Kats also had to rally to take a 4-3 win in a tight singles battle versus UTEP.
The Atlantic 10 Conference member Revolutionaries began the match by winning in the number one and two doubles battles.
George Washington's Madison Lee and Victoria Sasinka handed India Fenieys and Sahithi Vutukuru a 6-2 loss at No. 2.
Vianne Schwab and Linn Svaerd evened things with a 7-5 win over Alejandra Ramirez and Solange Skeene at the three spot. But Gabriela Giraldo and Stella Wiesemann won over Cerda and Megan Basson at the No. 1 position 7-5.
Wiesermann and Sasinka put their team one step away from victory with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 singles. But the Kats bounced back.
First, India Fenieys defeated Solange Skeene 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 4 singles. Then Linn Svaerd pounced on Rachel Ishisuchi 6-4 6-2 at No. 5. Cerda topped Gabriela Giraldo 6-0, 7-5 at the No. 2 spot setting up Scwab's victory at No. 6.
Next up for the Bearkat netters will be three consecutive Conference USA home matches in Huntsville. Sam Houston play host to Louisiana Tech March 30, NM State, April 5 and Jax State April 7. The trio of contests will close out Sam Houston's 2024 home slate.
Sam Houston 4, George Washington 3
Lynchburg, Va. (Liberty Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Stella Wiesemann (GW) def. Megan Basson (SHSU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Paula Cerda (SHSU) def. Gabriela Giraldo (GW) 6-0, 7-5
3. Victoria Sasinka (GW) def. Sahithi Vutukuru (SHSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. India Fenieys (SHSU) def. Solange Skeene (GW) 6-2, 6-3
5. Linn Svaerd (SHSU) def. Alejandra Ramirez (GW) 6-4, 6-2
6. Vianne Schwab (SHSU) def. Rachel Ishisuchi (GW) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Gabriela Giraldo/Stella Wiesemann (GW) def. Megan Basson/Paula Cerda (SHSU) 7-5
2. Madison Lee/Victoria Sasinka (GW) def. India Fenieys/Sahithi Vutukuru (SHSU) 6-2
3. Vianne Schwab/Linn Svaerd (SHSU) def. Alejandra Ramirez/Solange Skeene (GW) 7-5
Team Records: Sam Houston 7-7 George Washington 1-10
