THE ATENEO Women’s Lawn Tennis Team (AWLTT) dropped their first second-round matchup against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Female Tennisters, 1-4, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.

This defeat puts the Blue Eagles at a 0-5 win-loss record at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Women’s Lawn Tennis Tournament.

In singles action, Nina Sandejas kicked off the set of matches against UST’s Kaye Emana. Despite a valiant effort to withstand her opponent’s attacks, the Blue Eagle succumbed to a defeat in straight sets, 0-6, 0-6. Meanwhile, Sandejas’s teammate Elle Urgello also absorbed a loss to Female Tennister Alexi Santos in the following singles matchup, with a similar scoreline.

The first doubles contest saw Ateneo’s couplet of Faye Dizon and Althea Martirez square off against Minette Bentillo and Nicole Dela Rita. In the first set, the Katipunan-based unit edged out UST in a competitive affair, 6-4. The following set would prove to be more competitive than the previous one, with both squads knotted up at six apiece. However, the Atenean duo maintained their poise and dished out aggressive hits to secure the tiebreaker and the win for the Blue and White, 7-6 (3).

AWLTT captain Althea Ong then teamed up with rookie Chelsea Roque in the penultimate match of the day against Female Tennisters Princess Gom-os and Miles Vitaliano. The Blue Eagles’ offensive struggles allowed the España-based tandem to take full control of the match, who won flawlessly in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.

Capping off this morning’s matchup was the final singles match between Blue Eagle Mariam Garsin and UST’s Justine Maneja. The veteran’s hard-hitting strokes allowed her to keep in step with her opponent, but Maneja managed to edge out Garsin in the first set, 6-2. In the second set, the Atenean showcased impressive strategies in a back-and-forth exchange, being only down by one with a chance to force a tiebreaker, 5-6. However, Maneja would thwart her opponent’s attempt at a comeback, securing the 7-5 victory for the Female Tennisters. 

The Blue Eagles’ quest to turn the tides continues in the second round as they face the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Tennisters on Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 PM at the same venue.

Team-Tie score: Ateneo-UST: 1-4

First Women’s Singles: Sandejas defeated by Emana, 0-6, 0-6

First Women’s Doubles: Dizon and Martirez def. Bentillo and Dela Rita, 6-4, 7-6 (3)

Second Women’s Singles: Urgello defeated by Santos, 0-6, 0-6

Second Women’s Doubles: Ong and Roque defeated by Gom-os and Vitaliano, 0-6, 0-6

Third Women’s Singles: Garsin defeated by Maneja, 2-6, 5-7

Current Standings (W-L)

NU Lady Bulldogs (4-0)

UST Female Tennisters (4-1)

UP Fighting Maroons (2-2)

DLSU Lady Tennisters (1-3)

ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-5)