Texas State sweeps Arkansas State on senior day

Saturday was important for Texas State.

It was senior day, and the Bobcats made sure their three senior student-athletes, Ana Perez, Julia Navajo-Melendez and Joy Chia Ming Ming, knew how much they were appreciated by the team.

The seniors, in turn, helped lead the maroon and gold to its second Sun Belt victory of the season, sweeping Arkansas State, 4-0.

Texas State’s first victory came from Perez, who defeated her opponent in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Sophomore Rishona Israel-Lewis came next. She dropped her first set, 6-2, but came back in the next, winning 6-4, and sealed the match by taking the third set 6-3.

Navajo-Melendez had the tightest match of the day. She cruised to a 6-4 win in the first set, but fell in the next, 6-4. It took an extra point, but the senior got the final victory in a 7-5 third set.

Chia Ming Ming sealed the sweep for the hosts, winning 6-3 and 7-5.

The win moves the Bobcats to ninth place in the conference, just half a game behind Georgia Southern and Georgia State, who are currently tied for the No. 7 seed.

Texas State (6-10, 2-5 Sun Belt) and its seniors will play in their final home series of the season on Tuesday when the team hosts UT Arlington (13-7, 4-2) inside the Bobcat Tennis Complex at 1 p.m.