The Howard Payne women's tennis team earned a meaningful victory this weekend, defeating LeTourneau University by a 4–2 score in a match that marked a milestone moment for the program. The win was the first career head coaching victory for Josh Lopez, who is in his first year at Howard Payne and his first season leading a collegiate program. Competing with a four-player lineup, the Yellow Jackets set the tone early by sweeping doubles play, with the No. 1 team of Hannah Lightner and Victoria Ramos earning a 6–0 win, while Nina Delafuente and Kendra Werlein secured a hard-fought 7–5 victory at No. 2 doubles. That early momentum carried into singles, where Lightner, Ramos, and Delafuente each picked up straight-set wins to clinch the match for Howard Payne University over LeTourneau University Women's Scorecard vs LETU.
Following the match, Lopez reflected on both the result and the journey to get there, saying, "Very excited to get my first win as head coach here at HPU. The team has been working hard everyday and to finally see it pay off and get a win meant everything to me. This women's team of 4, going into every match with the odds against us, will stick with me for the rest of my career." The victory not only put a mark in the win column but also highlighted the resilience and determination of a young team continuing to build its foundation under new leadership.
