April 28, 2007

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons was pushed to the limit, but Bria Camarillo rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles to give HSU its seventh straight American Southwest Conference title with a 5-4 win over Howard Payne at the Streich Tennis Center in Abilene.

After the match was all square at 4-4, Camarillo and Kayleigh Sullivan were the last match on the court. Sullivan won the first set 7-5 and Camarillo knotted the match at 6-4. The sophomore from Abilene then won easily in the decisive match to give the Cowgirls their 67th straight ASC win and more importantly the conference title. Camarillo was named the tournament's MVP.

HSU won two of the three doubles matches to take an early lead 2-1. Tracy Henington and Brittany Brazell won 8-4 over Cathleen Touisithiphonexay and Casey Morgan. Hazel de la Torre and Camarillo won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles over Sullivan and Susanna Street. Stephanie Ortiz and Brea Roth of Howard Payne swept Sara West and Kassidi Langley 8-0 at No. 3 doubles.

The Cowgirls then won easily as expected at No. 1 and No. 2 singles with Henington winning 6-0, 6-1 over Street and de la Torre defeating Morgan 7-5, 6-3.

Howard Payne won at No. 3, 5 and 6. Touisithiphonexay won 7-5, 6-0 over Brazell at No. 3, Laci Fitzgerald won 6-2, 6-2 over West at No. 5 and Ortiz won 6-2, 6-1 over Langley.

HSU is now 12-3 and will make their third trip to the NCAA Championships as a team. Pairings will be announced on Monday.

Hardin-Simmons 5, Howard Payne 4 Singles 1. Tracy Henington (HSUW) def. Susanna Street (HPU) 6-0, 6-1 2. Hazel de la Torre (HSUW) def. Casey Morgan (HPU) 7-5, 6-3 3. Cathleen Touisithiphonexay (HPU) def. Brittany Brazell (HSUW) 7-5, 6-0 4. Bria Camarillo (HSUW) def. Kayleigh Sullivan (HPU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 5. Laci Fitzgearld (HPU) def. Sara West (HSUW) 6-2, 6-2 6. Stephanie Ortiz (HPU) def. Kassidi Langley (HSUW) 6-2, 6-1 Doubles 1. Tracy Henington/Brittany Brazell (HSUW) def. Cathleen Touisithiphonexay /Casey Morgan (HPU) 8-4 2. Hazel de la Torre/Bria Camarillo (HSUW) def. Susanna Street/Kayleigh Sullivan (HPU) 8-5 3. Stephanie Ortiz/Brea Roth (HPU) def. Sara West/Kassidi Langley (HSUW) 8-0