The ASU women’s tennis team split the weekend’s road trip with two close matches, one narrow 4-3 victory over South Florida on Saturday, and a close 4-3 loss to Texas on Sunday.
It was only the Sun Devils’ (6-2) second loss of the season.
ASU senior Kelcy McKenna was unable to play in the match against Texas because of health reasons.
"Kelcy had a 4-hour match on Saturday, and she was really dehydrated," ASU coach Sheila McInerney said. "We had to take her to the emergency room [Saturday] night, so she couldn't play [Sunday]."
Jacqueline Cako extended her singles winning streak to 11-straight matches as she took victories over USF sophomore Ecaterina Vasenina (6-2, 6-0) and Texas sophomore Aeriel Ellis (6-1, 6-4).
The Sun Devils had to deal with bad weather conditions throughout the weekend, which delayed play on both days.
“The rain didn’t affect our play,” McInerney said. “It just delayed it, and we still played well against USF.”
The undefeated doubles tandem of senior Ashlee Brown and junior Sianna Simmons was unable to finish a doubles match against USF on Saturday because of the rain.
It didn’t happen again on Sunday, as the duo beat Texas junior Krista Damico and sophomore Aeriel Ellis in doubles play (8-4) to continue their winning streak.
The Sun Devils took the first point of the match against USF with two doubles victories. ASU senior Kelcy McKenna and sophomore Hannah James beat Parker and Bonte 8-5, and ASU senior Micaela Hein and freshman Jacqueline Cako beat senior Irene Rehberger and junior Janette Bejlkova 8-6.
In singles play McKenna took Rehberger to three sets and won the game-deciding match (6-7, 6-4, 7-6).
Simmons was the other Sun Devil to earn a victory, beating USF freshman Kate Parker (7-5, 6-1). James, Hein and Brown dropped their matches.
Losing the doubles point in Sunday’s match against Texas proved to be costly in such a close defeat.
"We competed really hard, and we almost won the doubles point," McInerney said.
Along with Cako, Hein and James each won their singles matches. Hein defeated junior Krista Damico (7-5, 6-3), and James took a two set (6-4, 6-4) win over senior Maggie Mello.
The Sun Devils were already down one player with ASU junior Michelle Brycki staying in Tempe to rehab her swollen knee. The loss of McKenna in Sunday’s meet didn’t give the Sun Devils enough players to have three doubles teams.
Cako and Hein fell in doubles play to senior Amanda Craddock and freshman Cierra Gaytan-Leach (6-8), giving the Longhorns the doubles point.
With a default and losses from Brown and Simmons, Texas claimed the victory.
Reach the reporter at nicole.klauss@asu.edu
