The Mustangs clinch a historic upset in Waco ... Ranked wins, tiebreak drama, and a clutch performance secure the program's first win over Baylor since 1995.
The SMU women’s tennis team delivered one of its most memorable performances in decades Sunday afternoon, edging Baylor 4-3 in a dramatic road showdown in Waco that ended a 30-year drought against the Bears.
For the first time since 1995, the Mustangs walked off the court victorious against Baylor, doing so in a match that featured momentum swings, ranked opponents, tiebreak drama and clutch play when it mattered most.
SMU set the tone early by claiming the doubles point, which proved crucial in the tightly contested match. On court one, Amelie Van Impe and Caroline McGinley continued their strong start to the season with a 6-4 win over Baylor’s No. 61-ranked duo of Na Dong and Zuzanna Kubacha. The victory marked SMU’s second doubles win this spring over a nationally ranked top-40 pairing, reinforcing the Mustangs’ growing confidence at the top of the lineup.
After Baylor answered with a win on court two, Sophie Llewellyn and Natalie Stasny delivered under pressure on court three. Their 6-3 victory clinched the doubles point and pushed the pair to a perfect 4-0 record to begin the spring season.
Singles play mirrored the intensity of doubles. Baylor quickly leveled the score, but Stasny responded for SMU on court six with a composed 7-5, 7-5 win.
McGinley followed with a hard-fought three-set victory on court four, improving to 3-0 in dual matches and putting the Mustangs one point away from sealing the upset.
The Bears refused to go quietly, winning two marathon matches to force the outcome onto court one. That’s where Gina Feistel stepped into the spotlight.
Facing No. 40 Na Dong, Feistel delivered a gritty performance that defined the afternoon.
After trading sets, the match came down to a deciding tiebreak, where Feistel stayed steady to secure a 7-6(3), 0-6, 7-6(4) victory and clinch the historic win for SMU.
The result improved Feistel to 2-0 in singles play as a Mustang and capped off a defining moment for the program.
With the breakthrough victory in hand, the Mustangs now turn their attention back home. SMU returns to action Friday, Feb. 6, hosting Grand Canyon at 1:30 p.m. CT as the team looks to build on the momentum from a win decades in the making.