Texas Tech Overcomes ASU in Intense Tennis Battle

LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 15-ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders clinched a thrilling 4-2 victory over the No. 33-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday evening at the McLeod Tennis Center, marking a significant achievement with a program record of 11 conference wins.

The match lasted over three hours and included five third sets and three tiebreakers, showcasing both teams’ resilience and skill. Texas Tech, improving to 18-2 overall and 11-1 in the Big 12, secured the crucial doubles point early. At court two, Haliey Murphy and Mery Woon decisively defeated Sara Svetac and Lily Taylor, 6-2. This win set the tone as the Lady Raiders later clinched the doubles point when No. 6-ranked Gabriela Talaba and Nell Miller overcame Karin Altori and Patricija Spaka 6-3.

Arizona State (12-8, 7-5 Big 12) leveled the game at 1-1 when Spaka defeated Chuck Hlahola at court three, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3). However, Murphy quickly regained the lead for Texas Tech at court five, defeating Aiya Nupbay after dominating the first set 6-2, regaining momentum to win the match with a final set of 6-0.

The Sun Devils continued to battle back with No. 45-ranked Svetac overcoming the Lady Raider’s Emilija Tverijonaite 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, tying the overall match at 2-2. But Texas Tech’s Dmitrichenko responded, securing a victory against the Sun Devil’s Tverijonaite to give the Lady Raiders a 3-2 lead.

“We’re thrilled to break the program record. The team showed incredible grit tonight,” said Texas Tech head coach Billie Jean King. “Our doubles set the tone, but every singles match was a battle.”

In an exciting finish at court four, Lila Rodriguez clinched the match for Texas Tech with a three-set win against Lily Taylor. The first set went to a tiebreaker, with Rodríguez taking it 7-6 (7-4) before Taylor pushed back to even the score at 7-5 in the second. Rodriguez pulled ahead in a tight third set, sealing the victory with a final score of 6-3.

While the match concluded, an unfinished contest between Tech’s Jenna Decker and Altori at court six saw Decker leading 4-3 in a set three tiebreaker, which was called off as the overall match ended.

The Lady Raiders will host the No. 30 Arizona Wildcats next, in what could crown them the Big 12 regular season champions should they emerge victorious. The match starts on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the McLeod Tennis Center.