Womens Tennis
HPU Sports Information

Women's Tennis

Lady Jackets Win Twice During Road Trip

HPU Earns First Wins of the year. Coach Lopez Gets First Win of Coaching Career

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 The Howard Payne women's tennis team wrapped up a busy weekend of competition with three road matches that showcased both the challenges and progress of a young, short-handed lineup. The Yellow Jackets opened the weekend with a tough test against Texas Wesleyan University, where they faced a deep and experienced opponent and fell 7–0. Despite the final score, Howard Payne continued to gain valuable match experience, competing across doubles and singles against strong lineups in a match that helped set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
 
On Saturday, The Lady Jackets took care of business against LeTourneau University, earning a 4 to 2 team victory and their first win of the season and the first of Head Coach Josh Lopez's head coaching career.
The Yellow Jackets wasted no time setting the tone in doubles play. At the No. 1 spot, Hannah Lightner and Victoria Ramos delivered a flawless 6-0 performance, sweeping their opponents with sharp net play and decisive groundstrokes. The No. 2 pairing of Nina Delafuente and Kendra Werlein followed with a gritty 7-5 win, locking up the doubles point and giving Howard Payne early momentum.
Singles play only strengthened that grip. At No. 1, Hannah Lightner controlled her match from start to finish, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Victoria Ramos added another point at No. 2 with a 6-1, 6-4 win, showcasing consistency from the baseline. Nina Delafuente continued the surge at No. 3, battling through a tight first set before closing out a 7-5, 6-4 decision.
Kendra Werlein fought through a three-set contest at No. 4, dropping a narrow 6-2, 5-7, 7-10 match tiebreaker in a hard-fought effort that highlighted the overall competitiveness of the afternoon.
 
HPU kept the momentum going later in the day, earning a 5–2 victory. Howard Payne jumped out early by sweeping doubles play, with Hannah Lightner and Victoria Ramos winning 6–2 at No. 1, while Nina Delafuente and Kendra Werlein matched that score at No. 2. Momentum carried into singles, where Lightner, Ramos, Delafuente, and Werlein all secured straight-set wins to clinch the match. The result capped a weekend that reflected resilience, steady improvement, and continued momentum for the program.
 
"Overall, I was proud of how our team handled the weekend," Lopez said. "We faced a tough opponent early and learned from it, then came back the next day with great energy and focus. This group continues to grow with every match, and the way they responded on the road shows the character and fight we're building within the program."
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Nina Delafuente

Nina Delafuente

5' 5"
Junior
Victoria Ramos

Victoria Ramos

5' 2"
Junior
Hannah Lightner

Hannah Lightner

5' 9"
Freshman
Kendra Werlein

Kendra Werlein

5' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nina Delafuente

Nina Delafuente

5' 5"
Junior
Victoria Ramos

Victoria Ramos

5' 2"
Junior
Hannah Lightner

Hannah Lightner

5' 9"
Freshman
Kendra Werlein

Kendra Werlein

5' 2"
Freshman