FORT WORTH, Texas (March 7, 2026) – The UT Permian Basin women's tennis team started off its Spring Break trip on a high note, earning its first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over Southwest Baptist University on the afternoon of Friday, March 6, at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center (TCU Indoor Courts).
In doubles,
Sophia Crosby and
Peyton Jones paired together for the first time this season and won 6-1 over Ally Bowser and Olivia McGruder at No. 3 doubles. It was also the first doubles action of the season for Crosby.
Then after a close 7-5 defeat by
Dinethya Dharmaratne and
Mattea Bowe against Maria Clara Zotti and Sammi Liu at No. 2 doubles, UTPB managed to win the doubles point as
Sophia Rashid and
Fanny Bergstrom claimed a 7-5 victory of their own over Defne Ursan and Isabella Canedo in the top spot. It was the first win of the season for Rashid and Bergstrom in six tries, all at No. 1 doubles.
In singles,
Alyssa Glasgow won 6-0, 6-1 over McGruder at No. 5 singles to give UTPB a 2-0 lead. It was the first singles' victory of the season for Glasgow.
UTPB then went up 3-1 as Bowe won 6-0, 6-3 over Canedo at No. 4 singles. Bowe improved to 3-2 at No. 4 singles.
The clincher came with a 6-1, 6-1 win by
Paige Sitanggang over Bowser at No. 6 singles. Sitanggang improved to 2-1 at No. 6 singles.
UTPB won in each of the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 singles spots in straight sets, and held third-set leads in each of the top-two singles spots at well.
"The ladies competed really well last night," spoke UTPB Head Tennis Coach
Chris Tolson. "It was great to see them finally come away with the doubles point. They have been so close all season, so it was good to see us grab that point. It definitely helped their confidence heading into singles play as all of our ladies played well. But it was good to see the bottom part of our lineup really step up with Mattea, Alyssa and Paige having big victories."
Results:
Doubles
Singles
- #1 – Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) vs. Sammi Liu (SBU) 6-4, 1-6, 4-3, unfinished
- #2 – Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) vs. Defne Ursan (SBU) 6-1, 2-6, 4-2, unfinished
- #3 – Maria Clara Zotti (SBU) def. Sophia Rashid (UTPB) 6-3, 6-1
- #4 – Mattea Bowe (UTPB) def. Isabella Canedo (SBU) 6-0, 6-3
- #5 – Alyssa Glasgow (UTPB) def. Olivia McGruder (SBU) 6-0, 6-1
- #6 – Paige Sitanggang (UTPB) def. Ally Bowser (SBU) 6-1, 6-1
- Order of Finish: 5, 3, 4, 6
Team Records:
- Both teams are now 1-7 overall.
- It was a win for UTPB against a team with postseason experience after SBU advanced to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) semifinals a year ago and finished 11-8 overall.
