The Dallas Baptist Women's Tennis Team netted a 4-2 rally over Colorado Mesa University on Tuesday at DBU Kiest tennis courts. The Patriots (9-5) stretch their season-high winning streak to six in a row and claimed the first one-point match of the campaign. The Mavericks (8-7) have fallen in the last two contests. 

DBU opened the doubles competition with an 8-2 victory from junior, Amanda Richter, and freshman, Cassandra Wennerstrom, in the #1 slot. 

After dropping a close match at the #2 position of seniors, Leah Rutt and Leah Smith, DBU stormed back and played relentless singles matches.  At one point, DBU was facing a 4-1 deficit until the #2 singles player, Wennerstrom, held off Kaylee Davis in a decisive 6-2, 6-1 match.  Amanda Richter at #3 was next off the court and defeated Shannen McNamara 6-4, 6-3. 

With DBU now trailing 4-3 and with two singles matches left, Smith beat Rachel McLaughlin 7-5, 6-2.  At 4-4, the deciding match on the line was Rutt and her opponent Natalie Martin.  The Strausburg, Pennsylvania, native already had the first set behind her with a 7-5 win and closed out the match with a 6-4 win which gave the Patriots a 5-4 victory.
 
"I am very excited for our team's win today and for the way they fought back despite a considerable deficit," Head Coach Sarah Gray announced.  "When 5-4 matches end in your favor, it is a wonderful feeling that epitomizes college tennis."

Dallas Baptist will next turn its attention to a pair of home matches that continue a season-long home stand on March 28 and 29. The Patriots host Midwestern State first at 3 PM. On Saturday, the home squad will play a doubleheader affair versus two Heartland Conference foes. Up first at 9 AM is Newman University and University of Texas-Permian Basin follows at 3 PM. 

Winners of their past six, Coach Gray believes wins like today are important to building confidence and continuing momentum. 

"Last year, Rutt was the deciding match against another regional team and she fell short in that one.  It was great to see this exceptional leader, teammate and person clinch it," the second year coach praised. "Smith played tremendous doubles which displayed a great deal of emotional maturity after coming off of a rocky doubles match.  Finally, Wennerstrom and Richter stepped up and won their singles and doubles.  As a freshman and sophomore, respectively, it shows me great hope not only for the rest of our season but for the years to come."
 
Colorado Mesa 4 vs. Dallas Baptist 5

Doubles Competition: 
Richter/Wennerstrom (DBU) def. Davis and McLaughlin (CMU) 8-2
Kristyn Wykert/McNamara (CMU) def. Rutt and Smith (DBU) 8-6
Natalie Martin/Katie Kirby (CMU) def. Meredith Robinson and Lyvia Gomes (DBU) 8-1

Singles Competition:  
Rutt (DBU) def. Martin (CMU) 7-5, 6-4
Wennerstrom (DBU) def. Davis (CMU) 6-2, 6-1
Richter (DBU) def. McNamara (CMU) 6-4, 6-3
Smith (DBU) def. McLaughlin (CMU) 7-5, 6-2
Wykert (CMU) def. Gomes (DBU) 6-0, 6-0
Kirby (CMU) def. Robinson (DBU) 6-2, 6-0