HOUSTON – After coming close in several matches, the Celts of the University of St. Thomas claimed their first-ever victory in women's tennis Saturday with a 7-2 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor.

All six players for the Celts produced at least one win in an all-around team effort for the first-year program.

Ana Maria Gonzalez did not lose a game all day as she claimed shutout victories in both doubles and singles play. She opened the morning by teaming with Alejandra Lopez for an 8-0 win over UMHB's Victoria Rendon and Alonda Torres Diaz in flight one doubles play.

In singles play, Gonzalez claimed a 6-0, 6-0 win over Rendon in flight two.

Callighan Ard and Asan Atilla gave the Celts a 2-1 lead after doubles play finished thanks to their 8-5 win over Amanda Almanza and Nathalie Galligan in flight two.

Lopez won her flight one singles match 6-3, 6-3 over Galligan. The Celts officially clinched the match win when Ard won her flight five singles match over UMHB's Reilly Fletcher by scores of 6-2, 1-6, and 6-1.

Anna Ta won her first match of the season in flight six singles play with a 6-2, 6-3 win over UMHB's Macie Dehnisch. UST's Alyssa Davila took a hard-fought win in flight three over Torres Diaz by scores of 6-4, 4-6, and 6-4.

Singles competition

1. Alejandra Lopez (UST) def. Nathalie Galligan (MHB) 6-3, 6-3

2. Ana Maria Gonzalez (UST) def. Victoria Rendon (MHB) 6-0, 6-0

3. Alyssa Davila (UST) def. Alondra Torres Diaz (MHB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

4. Amanda Almanza (MHB) def. Asan Atilla (UST), by default (4-6, 7-6 (11-9))

5. Callighan Ard (UST) def. Reilly Fletcher (MHB) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1

6. Anna Ta (UST) def. Macie Dehnisch (MHB) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Ana Maria Gonzalez/Alejandra Lopez (UST) def. Victoria Rendon/Alondra Torres Diaz (MHB) 8-0

2. Callighan Ard/Asan Atilla (UST) def. Amanda Almanza/Nathalie Galligan (MHB) 8-5

3. Sydney Andersen/Reilly Fletcher (MHB) def. Alyssa Davila/Anna Ta (UST) 8-6

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,1,5,6,3,4)