LUBBOCK, Texas - Rain and lightning delays didn't slow down No. 17 Texas Tech (20-6), as the Lady Raiders rolled past No. 71 College of Charleston (20-9) in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships Saturday at the McLeod Tennis Center.

 

Texas Tech, who won its first NCAA Championship match in school history, will face No. 15 Duke in the second round at 1 p.m. Sunday at the McLeod Tennis Center. The Blue Devils defeated No. 37 Ole Miss, 4-1, earlier in the day.

 

Scattered thunderstorms and lightning delay both matches on Saturday by more than two hours.

 

The delay did not seem to affect Texas Tech on the court, as the Lady Raiders jumped out in quick fashion in double play.

 

At No. 1, the Texas Tech No. 16 tandem of Samantha Adams and Kenna Kilgo jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and never looked back as they picked a fast-paced 8-2 win over Katherine Scholfield and Irene Viana.

 

The Lady Raider duo of Caroline Starck and Elizabeth Ullathorne were knotted a 2-2 with Kelly Kambourelis and Brooke McAmis, before taking the next six games and the match, 8-2, giving Texas Tech the doubles point.

 

Nikki Sanders and Rashmi Teltumbde were leading College of Charleston's Samantha Maddox and Christin Newman, 6-3, when the match was left unfinished.

 

No. 80 Adams then played one of her best matches of the season, as she cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Newman at No. 1. Suddenly Texas Tech lead Charleston, 2-0.

 

Starck picked up her modern era record 96th career win, as she vetted Viana, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 for a 3-0 Teas Tech lead.

 

Kilgo closed out the win with a straight set victory at No. 3, as the sophomore rolled to a 6-4, 6-1 victory over McAmis.

 

Teltumbde, Ullathorne and Sanders each abandoned their matches as Texas Tech celebrated.

 

The 2013 edition of the Lady Raiders became just the second team in program history to win 20 matches in season, equaling the mark set by the 1987 Lady Raiders, who went 20-4.

 

TEXAS TECH HEAD COACH Todd Petty:

"I thought we got off to a great start. You never know how the nerves are going to kick in, in an environment like this. I thought they handled (the rain delay) well. They were very professional in the way they started the match and were able to play with momentum very well through the doubles. I thought the girls had such great energy coming out of warm up and I thought they were ready to go. Getting this win is big because, you always want to get that monkey off your back, especially getting to host you definitely want to reward the crowd. I am extremely excited with getting that off our back and getting an opportunity to play such a great program like Duke in the second round."

 

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON HEAD COACH ANGELO ANASTOPOULO:

"Texas Tech set the tone in the doubles. They took it to us and I think won that thing in about 30 minutes. We knew that was Texas Tech's strongest point. They've beaten some great teams in doubles. We'd have like to have played that a little bit closer but, it certainly jumped on us to see our number one player, who was conference player of the year, go down 0 and 1. I think it made us lose a little bit of confidence but, Texas Tech kept getting stronger and stronger, they're a good team. I will be honest, they are better than I thought they were. We've played some other teams from the Big 12 and have come out victorious but, Texas Tech is a legitimate team. They're a legitimate number one seed in the tournament, so I would think they're going to go far."

 

NCAA Tennis Championships

#17 Texas Tech 4, #71 College of Charleston 0

May 11, 2013 at Lubbock, Texas

(McLeod Tennis Center)

 

Singles

1. #80 Samantha Adams (TT) def. Christin Newman (COC) 6-0, 6-1

2. Rashmi Teltumbde (TT) vs. Kelly Kambourelis (COC) 2-4, 5-0, unfinished

3. Kenna Kilgo (TT) def. Brooke McAmis (COC) 6-4, 6-1

4. Elizabeth Ullathorne (TT) vs. Samantha Maddox (COC) 6-1, 3-6, unfinished

5. Nikki Sanders (TT) vs. Katherine Schofield (COC) 6-1, 3-2, unfinished

6. Caroline Starck (TT) def. Irene Viana (COC) 6-1, 6-0

 

Doubles

1. #16 Samantha Adams/Kenna Kilgo (TT) def. Katherine Schofield/Irene Viana (COC) 8-2

2. Nikki Sanders/Rashmi Teltumbde (TT) vs. Samantha Maddox/Christin Newman (COC) 6-3, unfinished

3. Caroline Starck/Elizabeth Ullathorne (TT) def. Kelly Kambourelis/Brooke McAmis (COC) 8-2

 

Records: #71 College of Charleston 20-9; #17 Texas Tech 20-6

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,6,3)

NCAA Championships First Round

T-2:03 A-475