Trinity's Southwick and Lutz capture second consecutive ITA Doubles Championship; TLU's Vega finishes runner-up in Singles

Trinity's Southwick and Lutz capture second consecutive ITA Doubles Championship; TLU's Vega finishes runner-up in Singles

(Portions of this story were taken from the Trinity and Texas Lutheran athletics' websites)

GEORGETOWN, Texas - Trinity University's top-seeded team of Liza Southwick and Marie Lutz captured the USTA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southwest Region Women's "A" Doubles Championship for the second consecutive year. Complete Results

In the "A" Singles Championship, Texas Lutheran University's Sofia Vega, the two-time defending champion, fell just short of winning a third consecutive title, falling to top-seeded Kayla Casey of East Texas Baptist University in the final.

Southwick, a junior, and Lutz a sophomore, defeated the No. 2 team of Kate Bramlett and Kayla Casey of East Texas Baptist University 7-5, 6-3 in Sunday's final. A best-of-three sets format was used at Southwestern University, instead of the usual pro set.

The Tiger duo will compete October 15-18 at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at Sumter, South Carolina. Southwick and Lutz won last year's Regional title at the Butch Newman Tennis Center, and went on to garner fifth place at the national tournament.

Earlier in the day on Sunday, Lutz played in the singles semifinals for the second straight year. The third-seeded Lutz was edged 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 by second-seeded and defending champion Sofia Vega of Texas Lutheran University. Casey, the tournament's top seed, later beat Vega in the championship match.

Vega, the No. 2 seed, met Casey in a tournament final for a second consecutive week. Casey won last week''s American Southwest Conference Individual Championship with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Vega.

On Sunday at Southwestern University, Vega met Casey after a four-hour Sunday morning match with No. 3 seed Marie Lutz of Trinity. Vega fell to Casey 6-1, 7-6 (5) in the final.

Vega battled into the final by saving three match points against Lutz in the semifinal. Vega trailed 4-1 in the third set but rallied for the 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory.

Vega, a senior from Corpus Christi, won five matches to reach the championship final.

Vega and Maddie Moore teamed together for doubles play and advanced to the USTA/ITA semifinal. The No. 4 seeded Bulldogs fell 8-1 in the semifinal to Liza Southwick and Lutz of Trinity.

The SCAC was well represented at the regional, which was hosted by Southwestern University. For complete bracket results from all competition, click here.

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