Fast start powers Tech past Denver

Saturday, March 26

Lubbock, Texas

12 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

Denver

March 26, 2022 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Tech swept DU 4-0, Saturday

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, TEXAS — The 34th-ranked Texas Tech women's tennis program swept No. 60 Denver, 4-0 Saturday afternoon at the McLeod Tennis Center.

The Lady Raiders (11-7) defeated Denver (9-7) without dropping a set in either singles or doubles play.

Avelina Sayfetdinova and Metka Komac led the way for Tech going a perfect 2-0 on the afternoon.

Tech took an early lead after sweeping the doubles point.

The duo of Komac and Olivia Peet rolled to a 6-0 doubles victory on court No. 3, while Sayfetdinova and her partner Kailey Evans finished doubles play with a 6-2 victory.
Komac started the scoring off in singles play, when she won her fourth singles match in her last five, winning 7-5, 6-3.

Freshman Christina Tiglea quickly brought Tech to within one point of victory when she won her second match in a row in straight sets.

Tiglea got off to a fast start in the first set, winning 6-0. The freshman fought through some adversity in the second set, but ultimately came out on top 7-5.

Just one point away from securing the win, the Lady Raiders turned to No. 85 Sayfetdinova. The freshman took down Denver's Britt Pursell by a score of 7-5, 6-3.

Tech has won back-to-back matches and four of its last six overall.

HEAD COACH TODD PETTY:
"At this point of the season we should be in the best physical shape we've been in all year, so I think today was more about our emotional bounce-back than our physical one. We won an emotional match last night and we did a good job of letting go last night and getting another result today. Denver is a great team. They're very competitive and do a great job of scheduling competitive matches to build confidence."

On the underclassmen on the roster:
"The younger players that we have are a huge part of our program. The freshman class, and then you include Kailey [Evans] who came last year but was injured and didn't play for us. Kailey is playing really well for us at No. 1 doubles. Avelina getting the clinching point today was huge and will only help her going forward. They're starting to get confident, and we're starting to figure out how everything works."

On tomorrow's doubleheader:
"Unfortunately, we needed to play four matches this weekend due to cancellations. It's hard to play four matches in a weekend when you don't feel confident, but it's also great to play four matches when you do feel confident, and right now I think our confidence is high. Both of tomorrow's matches will provide a great test for us, and we'll need to be ready to go for both West Virginia and UTRGV."

UP NEXT:
Tech returns to action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader against conference foe West Virginia and UTRGV. First serve against the Mountaineers is set for 2 p.m., while the match against the Vaqueros is set for 5 p.m. start.