SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's tennis team lost to Southland Conference rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, 5-2 at Mabry Tennis Center.
The Cardinals (5-18, 1-11) put forward their best foot as they attempted to upset the top team in the conference. They took an early lead after earning the doubles point available.
Ivana Katavic (Split, Croatia) and
Andi Botha (Pretoria, South Africa) knocked off the top Islander team, 8-4. Then,
Sarah Savedra (El Paso/El Paso HS) and
Jennifer Betancourt (Valencia, Venezuela/La Salle Guaparo) took down the AMCC No. 2 team, 8-5.
In singles play, the deep and talented Islanders took control of the match. Judit Vives, Maider Martin, Celia Rodriguez, Sandra Burges and Kerry Galhos each won in straight sets. The lone bright spot for the Cardinals was Katavic's 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 win over Stefania Nicolae at the No. 1 spot.
Seniors Betancourt, Botha, Katavic and
Kelsey Reblin (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) each played their final matches in a UIW uniform. Betancourt finished out a two-year career 19 singles wins and 22 doubles victories. Botha played three years for the Cardinals and accumulated a 34-35 singles mark and 28-38 record in doubles play. Katavic has been the No. 1 player on the team for each of her three seasons and went 27-36 in singles 26-41 in doubles. Reblin is another two-year member of the program who was an every day starter this year and finished her career with seven singles and eight doubles wins.
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