By Cody Soto
Sports Writer
No. 7 Baylor women’s tennis snapped a 20-match conference winning streak dating back to March 27, 2013 as the Bears dropped a 4-2 decision to then-No. 18 Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon in Lubbock.
The Bears (19-5, 5-1 Big 12) had difficulty in all aspects of the game, starting in doubles play. Baylor had not dropped a conference road match until Saturday, but the Red Raiders just outplayed them. The team didn’t respond, head coach Joey Scrivano said.
“Texas Tech deserves a lot of credit,” Scrivano said. “I don’t care about the result, as long as we have no regrets. On too many courts, we stayed in our comfort zone. When we do that we usually regret it.”
Texas Tech drew first blood when they took a 6-3 win at the No. 3 position over junior Kiah Generette and sophomore Blair Shankle, but the Bears would strike back as senior Ema Burgic and junior Rachael James-Baker defeated Kenna Kilgo and Gabriela Talaba 6-4 on court one. However, the No. 2 spot fell in favor of Texas Tech. Lynn Kiro and Sabrina Federici edged freshmen Kelley Anderson and Leolia JeanJean 7-6 (7-5) to give the Red Raiders an early 1-0 lead over the Bears.
The Bears quickly tied up the match at 1-1 after Anderson rolled over Katelyn Jackson 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 6 spot, but Texas Tech’s Lynn Kiro defeated No. 82 James-Baker 6-1, 7-5 on court four to retake the lead quickly.
Baylor had trouble at the top of the lineup, and No. 25 Burgic lost 6-4, 6-1 to Kilgo for the 3-1 Texas Tech lead. Things looked hopeful as No. 28 Shankle defeated Talaba 7-5, 7-5 at the No. 2 spot, but the Red Raiders got the match-clinching point when No. 90 Sarah Dvorak downed No. 75 Generette 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 on court three.
Baylor and Texas Tech are now tied for first place in the conference standings with less than a month to go until the Big 12 Championships in Waco. There isn’t much time to think too much on what could have gone differently though.
“Thankfully, we don’t have time to dwell on this match,” Scrivano said. “We need to put our focus on learning from it and preparing for Texas A&M.”
The Bears and No. 10 Aggies meet for the second time this season at 5 p.m. today at the Hurd Tennis Center. Baylor looks to avenge a 4-2 loss in College Station on March 19.
