IU East wins RSC Women's Tennis Championship over Asbury (Ky.) for first title

4/25/2021 12:00:00 AM

By IU East Sports Information

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. - Eva Caballero walloped one last unreturnable forehand, and then the Red Wolf celebration began.

Indiana University East claimed the first River States Conference Women's Tennis Championship title and national tournament berth in program history with a 4-1 win against Asbury (Ky.) University in the championship title match April 24 at the indoor courts at Top Seed Tennis Club.

Caballero won the clinching match by a 7-6 (5), 6-3 score at No. 3 singles. Her final forehand resulted in an Asbury error and a joyous Red Wolf celebratory huddle.

"What a great day to make program history!" said IU East coach Jacob Rankin. "The girls came out on fire and never looked back.

"We played amazing doubles, and then played the best singles up and down the line that I've seen all year. So proud of them, and can't wait for nationals!"

IU East will take a 13-8 record into the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship scheduled to begin May 18 in Mobile, Ala.

IU East defeated Asbury en route to the program's first regular-season conference title earlier this month, but the Red Wolves faced a reinforced Eagles roster on April 24.

Didn't matter. IU East won the doubles point in impressive fashion. Camila Caballero and Linda Marino rolled to a 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles. Eva Caballero and Amonette Theron cruised 6-1 at No. 2.

Marino made it 2-0 in the team scoring with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles. Camila Caballero picked up the third Red Wolf win by a 6-4, 6-0 score at No. 1.

Eva Caballero had rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the first set and a 3-0 deficit in the first-set tiebreaker to take the lead on the No. 3 court. She pushed through the second set by a 6-3 score to clinch the championship.

IU East held leads in the third set on the remaining courts. IU East will learn its draw for the national tournament on May 4.

RSC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL -- APRIL 24, 2021 (TOP SEED TENNIS CLUB)

No. 1 IU East def. No. 3 Asbury, 4-1

Singles

1. Camila Cabellero (IUE) def. Giovana Kelm (AU), 6-4, 6-0

2. Linda Marino (IUE) def. Kendall Jablonowski (AU), 6-1, 6-4

3. Eva Caballero (IUE) def. Grace Gorby (AU), 7-6 (5), 6-3

4. Amonette Theron (IUE) leads Alexandra Lerma (AU), 6-3, 2-6, 3-2, unfinished

5. Nora Ribeiro (IUE) leads Isabella Gutierrez (AU), 4-6, 6-0, 3-2, unfinished

6. Luciana Iriarte (AU) def. Ashlyn Hubbard (IUE), 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

1. Camila Caballero-Linda Marino (IUE) def. Giovana Kelm-Grace Gorby (AU), 6-0

2. Eva Caballero-Amonette Theron (IUE) def. Alexandra Lerma-Kendall Jablonowski (AU), 6-1

3. Luciana Iriarte-Allie Sutton (AU) lead Nora Ribeiro-Shelby Good (IUE), 5-2, unfinished