Lady Tiger tennis captures doubles title, places third at national tournament

Led by sophomores Ane Ibarra and Andrea Rodriguez capturing the No. 3 doubles title, the Cowley College women's tennis team tied the highest national finish in program history by placing third at the NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship in Mesa, AZ.

Ibarra and Rodriguez defeated a doubles' team from Tyler Junior College in the finals.

"Ane Ibarra and Andrea Rodriguez went through a lot of adversity to win the national championship," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "In the first set Andrea was running for a ball and twisted her ankle pretty bad, she said she wasn't going to retire in a situation like that. Andrea decided to play the rest of the match with a sprained ankle, but her will to win was bigger than the pain she was feeling at the moment."

Lady Tiger freshman Saara Kunakunova also advanced to play for a national championship before losing to Hillsborough Community College's Ana Villalvazo 6-0, 7-5 in the finals of No. 4 singles.

"Saara had a great tournament and a great season, she is a freshman and her future is very bright," Raga said.

Tyler Junior College (49 points) won their record-setting 20^th national championship, while Hillsborough Community College placed second with 44 points. Cowley (35 points) finished one-point better than fourth place St. Petersburg College (34 points).

"I am so proud of this group of women, they gave it their all for five days at the national championship," Raga said.

The last time Cowley finished as high as third place at the national tournament was clear back in the 2002 season.

"The ladies worked hard during the season to be ready for the big moments, and they delivered playing their best tennis here in Arizona," Raga said.

Cowley results:

SINGLES

*No. 1 – Isid Hernandez (Cowley) defeated Linda Eloundou (NMMI) 6-1 7-5; defeated Chloe Certain (Harford) 6-3, 6-1; defeated Justine Lespes (Seward) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; lost to Natalie Kohoutkova (ABAC) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals.

*No. 2 – Laura Quezada (Cowley) defeated Sage Schula (Mesa) 6-0 6-0; defeated Carla Montaruli (Meridian) 6-0, 6-1; defeated Aliya Henry (Eastern Arizona) 6-1, 6-2; lost to Lauren Anzalotta (Tyler) 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals.

*No. 3 – Lea Rebreyend (Cowley) defeated Anna Woods (CACC) 6-1, 6-2; lost to Violet Apisha (Tyler) 6-1 6-0.

*No. 4 – Saara Kunakunova (Cowley) received a bye in the first-round; defeated Sarah Forsyth (SCF) 6-4, 6-3; defeated Mann-Ning Li(Collin) 6-1, 6-3; defeated Maria Garcia (Seward) 6-4, 7-6(2) in the semifinals; lost to Ana Villalvazo (Hillsborough) 6-0,7-5 in the championship match.

*No. 5 – Andrea Rodriguez (Cowley) received a bye in the first-round; defeated Ralie Boles (Meridian) 6-0, 6-0; defeated Paula Acosta (Collin) 6-0, 6-0; lost to Isadora Oliveira (Hillsborough) 6-3, 6-2.

*No. 6 – Ane Ibarra (Cowley) received a bye in the first-round; defeated Hailey Vintoe (Barton) 6-0 6-2. defeated Claire Griffith (Kaskaskia) 6-0, 6-0; lost to Olivia Pezo (Hillsborough) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals.

DOUBLES

*No. 1 – Quezada & Rebreyend (Cowley) defeated Beladova & Vidal (Iowa Central) 6-1, 6-4; Quezada & Rebreyend (Cowley) defeated Martin & Vandiver (CACC) 6-2, 6-2; lost to A. De Souza & N. Nishimura (Barton) 6-3, 6-1.

*No. 2 – Hernandez & Kunakunova defeated Black & Beukes (ABAC) 6-2, 6-1; Hernandez & Kunakunova (Cowley) defeated Warren &  Brister (CO-LIN) 6-2, 6-1; lost to A. Violet & E. Schwarte (Tyler) 6-2, 6-0.

*No. 3 – Ibarra & Rodriguez (Cowley) received a bye in the first-round; defeated Garcia & Martincova (Eastern Florida) 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 defeated C. Torrico & S. Vogelzang (Seward) 6-1, 6-1; defeated E. Mova & R. Hancock (St-Pete) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals; defeated J. Chan & M. Yoshimura (Tyler) 7-6(5), 7-6(5) in the championship match.