Under extremely windy conditions and on their home courts, the DBU Women's Tennis Team played some of their best and toughest tennis today.  The match was preceded by the annual Senior Day ceremony honoring Lyvia Gomes, Leah Rutt and Leah Smith.  The doubles matches were tight and toe to toe, where tiebreakers were played on both courts #1 and #2.  Court #2 of seniors Leah Rutt and Leah Smith played aggressive and offensive doubles to eventually take the win 9-8 (7-5).  DBU's #3 duo of Lyvia Gomes and Alexa Mentesana had dropped their match and the overall match score was then tied at 1-1.  With nerves of steel, freshman Cassandra Wennerstrom and sophomore Amanda Richter clinched their tiebreaker 7-5. 
 
"I coached #1 doubles today and was so excited by the playmaking and the way Cassandra and Amanda created opportunities for themselves in doubles," Head Coach Sarah Gray stated. "Their hands were amazing at net and their doubles chemistry is really starting to show.  To have two lower classmen girls step up and not only play #1 but excel at it is exciting for our program's future."

"Leah Rutt and Leah Smith had an extremely close match as well where if they had not played so disciplined and alert, they could have let it slip away," Coach Gray praised. "To see these two seniors embrace each other on Senior Day after they had defeated very tough opponents was a special moment for me to witness."
 
On the singles side, Amanda Richter took her #3 opponent by storm with a 6-1, 6-0 defeat, thus stretching the DBU lead to 3-1.  Senior Leah Rutt was defeated today which then brought the score to 3-2.  Cassandra Wennerstrom battled hard and defeated her opponent in two sets which again extended DBU's lead to 4-2.  With courts #5 and #6 just now beginning their matches, all eyes were on senior Leah Smith at the #4 position.  Smith had won the first set, found herself down in the second and fought back to a 6-4, 6-4 victory which clinched the victory for the Patriots!
 
"It was spectacular to see Leah Smith clinch the victory over a solid Tarleton team," the second-year coach added. "They are a top regional team and this provides quite a bit of confidence and momentum for our team as we head into post-season play." 
 
The DBU women's team will continue their season as they will go to Abilene to compete in the NCCAA Regional tournament April 25-26.  The winner of the Regional tournament will qualify for NCCAA Nationals in Mobile, Alabama. 

Tarleton State 4 vs. Dallas Baptist 5

Singles:    
1. Alicia Perez (TSU) def. Leah Rutt (DBU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Cassandra Wennerstrom (DBU) def. Ivana Zecevic (TSU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Amanda Richter (DBU) def. Luiza Adas (TSU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Leah Smith (DBU) def. Marina Rull (TSU) 6-4, 6-4 
5. Silvia Nieva (TSU) def. Meredith Robinson (DBU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Ellie Stevens (TSU) def. Lyvia Gomes (DBU) 6-1, 6-1 

Doubles:
1. Wennerstrom/Richter (DBU) def. Adas/Zecevic (TSU) 9-8 
2. Rutt/Smith (DBU) def. Perez/Makenzie Mitchell (TSU) 9-8
3. Nieva/Stevens (TSU) def. Gomes/Alexa Mentesana (DBU) 8-0