By Collin Bryant | Sports Writer
Three members of the Baylor women’s tennis team advanced to the final day of the H-E-B Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Hurd Tennis Center, and senior Theresa Van Zyl walked away as the singles champion.
Van Zyl won the main draw singles championship with a come-from-behind three set victory over University of Houston sophomore Tsveta Dimitrova, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Van Zyl said she knew that if she kept grinding, she could pull out the victory.
“It was hard, but I mean, when you’re down you’re never out of a match,” Van Zyl said. “That’s what I just kept telling myself, just keep going and to stay positive, anything can happen, a match can change like that.”
Van Zyl opened the final day of play facing Baylor sophomore Jessica Hinojosa in the semifinals where she won in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final. Van Zyl defeated TCU freshman Stevie Kennedy 6-0, 6-2, Kentucky freshman Isabel Iglesias 6-2, 6-2 and Tyler Junior College freshman Tamara Arnold, 6-2, 6-3 during play on Friday and Saturday to advance to the semifinals on Sunday.
Baylor women’s tennis head coach Joey Scrivano said he’s extremely proud to see the hard work that Van Zyl has put in, produce great results.
“Theresa has just had a great fall. She’s put in the work this season, all during her time here she’s been a consistent worker,” Scrivano said. “It’s amazing when you put the preparation in, the results follow and just extremely proud of her.”
Hinojosa previously faced Tyler Junior Collegesophomore Oceane Garibal, 6-4, 6-3, and Mississippi State freshman Magda Adaloglou, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Baylor sophomore Angelina Shakhraichuk was victorious in three of her previous matches before falling to University of Houston sophomore Tsveta Dimitrova, 6-4,6-2. Shakhraichuk competed in the consolation back draw and swept the match in straight sets against University of Houston junior Sveva Mazzari in convincing fashion, 6-0, 6-0.
The women’s tennis team is back in action at the ITA Texas Regionals, Oct. 13-16 in Fort Worth.
