Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

LA Tech Athletics

LA Tech Athletics

Events

Perny teamed up with Merker to win Peruna Doubles Draw

Women's Tennis

LA Tech Makes Strong Showing at SMU Invite

Oct. 11, 2015

DALLAS ÃÆ'¢Ã¢'¬" Louisiana Tech rounded out the three-day SMU Invitational on Sunday with a grand total of 14 singles and eight doubles wins, including two main draw flight wins at the SMU Tennis Complex.

The Lady Techsters came into the final day having advanced three doubles teams and four singles into the main draw finals.

In the end, the tandem of Taly Merker and Alba Escalona Perny swept all three matches to claim the Peruna Doubles Draw and Manoela Chiacchio posted three straight sets victories to take the Dallas Singles Draw.

"The team had an amazing weekend which really prepared us for regionals next weekend," head coach Chad Camper said. "We played outstanding tennis the first two days, but then just played average the last day. I am proud of their fight though. I don't expect to play great every match, but I do expect us to fight for every point."

The duo of Jazmin Britos and Marta Sramkova bested Rice's Zinko/Astete, 6-4, on Saturday before falling in the finals to De los Rios/Serio of UT Arlington.

After a 6-2 win over Medina/Hayward of UTEP, Merker and Perny produced another 6-2 win, this time in a friendly competition against their own teammates, Chiacchio and Meryl Culot, in the finals.

In singles, Alexandra Starkova made an impressive run to the finals after overpowering Elizabeth Thoms of UTA, 6-4, 6-1. The Madrid, Spain then won the first set, 6-4, against TCU's Alexandra Zenovka, but dropped the second and third by scores of 6-2 and 6-3, respectively.

Britos Made the most of her dramatic first round come back by following it up with a 6-3, 6-4 victory versus Arkansas' Mia Jurasic in the semifinals. The junior forced a third set against rival Natalya Krutova of Northwestern State, but fell by a final score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

The tough luck in the finals continued in the Blue Singles Draw with Marta Sramkova outlasting UTA's Angeles De los Rios, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 before getting defeated in straight sets in the finals.

Breaking through in the finals though was Chiacchio who backed up a 6-0, 6-1 first round win with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 victory in the semis. The senior continued her solid performance by taking the finals, 6-3, 6-4 over Sarah Savedra of Incarnate Word.

Perny and Merker also recorded one singles victory in their respective draws, as well as Zoe Chen who bounced back from two losses to take down Arkansas' Nicole Breaux, 6-2, 6-2.

LA Tech will now head to the ITA Southern Regionals in Auburn, Alabama. The five-day event, hosted by Auburn University, starts on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.

For all the latest in LA Tech Tennis, follow them on Twitter (@LATechTEN) and Facebook (LATechTennis) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Sonia Chen

Sonia Chen

5' 5"
Freshman
Meryl Culot

Meryl Culot

5' 5"
Freshman
Alba Escalona Perny

Alba Escalona Perny

5' 3"
Sophomore
Jazmin Britos

Jazmin Britos

5' 6"
Freshman
Marta Sramkova

Marta Sramkova

5' 7"
Freshman
Manoela Chiacchio

Manoela Chiacchio

5' 8"
Freshman
Taly Merker

Taly Merker

5' 5"
Freshman
Alexandra Starkova

Alexandra Starkova

5' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sonia Chen

Sonia Chen

5' 5"
Freshman
Meryl Culot

Meryl Culot

5' 5"
Freshman
Alba Escalona Perny

Alba Escalona Perny

5' 3"
Sophomore
Jazmin Britos

Jazmin Britos

5' 6"
Freshman
Marta Sramkova

Marta Sramkova

5' 7"
Freshman
Manoela Chiacchio

Manoela Chiacchio

5' 8"
Freshman
Taly Merker

Taly Merker

5' 5"
Freshman
Alexandra Starkova

Alexandra Starkova

5' 7"
Freshman