All four freshmen on the Texas A&M women’s tennis team picked up victories in their collegiate career debuts to highlight the Aggies’ first day of competition in the Big 5 Challenge at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
“Overall, it was a productive day for the Aggies with a lot of positives to draw on,” A&M head coach Mark Weaver said. “Having all four freshman win on their opening day in the maroon and white no doubt sticks out in my mind as the highlight of the day and is very encouraging for our team. No doubt there were some nerves we had to battle through especially from the start. We definitely managed the nerves very well and were able fight through them and overcome them. That is one of the many reasons why we are happy at the end of the day along with the obvious item in getting in some quality, competitive matches under our belt, which you can never quite replicate in a practice situation.”
A&M newcomers Jessica Anzo, Jayci Goldsmith and Katya Townsend all picked up straight-set victories, while rookie Renee McBryde won her third-set 10-point tiebreaker to complete a 4-0 day for the Aggie freshmen.
McBryde, playing the No. 1 Flight, held off Arizona’s Emma Wilson, 6-1, 4-6, 10-6. Anzo defeated Csenge Furak of Arizona, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 3 Flight, and Goldsmith posted a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Marie Van Aelst of Arizona at the No. 5 Flight. Townsend also was triumphant in her debut with a 6-0, 7-6 victory over the Wildcats’ Gitte Heynemans at the No. 6 Flight.
In A&M’s other two matches, sophomore Dorthea Faa-Hviding, playing the No. 2 Flight, was topped by Camila Wesbrooks of Arizona, 4-6, 6-4, 11-9, and sophomore teammate Riley McQuaid fell to Arizona’s Talya Zandberg, 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 4 Flight.
The Aggies continue tournament play tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.
