The Howard Payne women's tennis team opened American Southwest Conference play on Wednesday afternoon at the Nabers Tennis Center, hosting East Texas Baptist University in Brownwood. The Yellow Jackets dropped the match 7-0, but found moments of fight and growth against a deep Tigers lineup.

In doubles action, Nina Delafuente and Kendra Werlein teamed up at the No. 1 spot and battled throughout their match. The duo pushed through several competitive points before falling 6-2, showing resilience against one of ETBU's top pairings.

Singles play saw the Yellow Jackets continue to compete, highlighted by efforts from multiple positions in the lineup. At No. 2 singles, Nina Delafuente worked through a tough matchup and managed to collect key games in the second set, finishing with a 6-1, 6-3 scoreline. Kendra Werlein also showed determination at No. 3 singles, earning games in both sets while continuing to apply pressure throughout her match.

Victoria Ramos took on the No. 1 singles position, facing a strong opponent and competing through each set despite the final score.

While the final result did not fall in Howard Payne's favor, the match marked the beginning of conference play and provided valuable experience for a lineup continuing to develop early in the season.

Head Coach Josh Lopez emphasized the importance of the moment and the opportunity to grow moving forward.

"We knew coming in that ETBU would be a strong test to open conference," said Lopez. "I was proud of the way Nina Delafuente and Kendra Werlein competed, especially in doubles. Matches like this are about building confidence and learning how to battle at this level. We'll take this, keep improving, and be ready for the next one."

Howard Payne will look to build on the experience as they continue ASC play in the coming matches.