ARLINGTON, Texas – Playing their first collegiate matches, Midwestern State freshmen Eirini Kontaki and Greta Lazzarotto each recorded a win in singles play while Kontaki teamed up with junior Abby White for a doubles victory in a 5-2 exhibition loss against NCAA Division I Texas-Arlington Saturday afternoon at the UTA Tennis Center.

The Mustangs battled hard against a UTA squad that returned five players from a 16-6 team that reached the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2015.

In doubles play, Midwestern State nearly escaped with an early 1-0 lead behind strong performances from the No. 1 and 2 doubles teams.

Kontaki and White paired up in doubles for the first time this season, earning a thrilling 7-6 (3) victory over the duo of Angeles de los Rios and Jessica Birowski at No. 2. On court one, senior Maddie Schorlemmer and sophomore Amy Clifton played a tight match with Elizabeth Thoms and Astrid Gehre before falling by a score of 6-4. The Mavericks came away with the doubles point with a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles.

In singles action, Kontaki earned her second win of the afternoon with a close 7-6 (3), 1-6, 10-7 decision over Birowski at No. 4 singles while Lazzarotto added another victory for the Maroon and Gold on court five with a 6-3, 6-4 straight-set win over Carla Cerdan Vives. However, the Mavericks proved to be too strong down the stretch with four straight-set wins on courts 1, 2, 3 and 6 to come away with the exhibition win.

Midwestern State continues exhibition play against Division I Stephen F. Austin next Saturday at the Schlief Tennis Complex in Nacogdoches. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m.


Midwestern State vs. UT Arlington
Jan. 23, 2016 at Arlington, Texas
(UTA Tennis Center)

UT Arlington 5, Midwestern State 2

Singles Competition
1. Elizabeth Thoms (UTA) def. Amy Clifton (MSU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Astrid Gehre (UTA) def. Maddie Schorlemmer (MSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Agustina Serio (UTA) def. Abby White (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Eirini Kontaki (MSU) def. Jessica Birowski (UTA) 7-6 (3), 1-6, 10-7
5. Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) def. Carla Cerdan Vives (UTA) 6-3, 6-4
6. Valeria Lopez (UTA) def. Lauren Pineda (MSU) 6-3, 6-3 

Doubles Competition
1. Thoms/Gehre (UTA) def. Clifton/Schorlemmer (MSU) 6-4
2. Kontaki/White (MSU) def. Angeles de los Rios/Birowski (UTA) 7-6 (3)
3. Serio/Lopez (UTA) def. Lazzarotto/Pineda (MSU) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Exhibition