After a 4-0 loss to Houston on Wednesday, the women’s tennis team faced another conference opponent in Texas, traveling to Southern Methodist on Thursday. The result wasn’t any better for the Owls, losing 7-0 to fall to 3-7 on the season. The loss was also the Owls’ sixth in their last seven matches.
The Owls were without Anais Nussaume and Jordan Batey in the SMU match. Both players did not travel with the team for the Texas trip and coach Steve Mauro said missing both of them hurt, especially against SMU.
“No full team really hurt us,” Mauro said. “We had to bump up some of our players who normally play lower in the lineup.”
In addition to an undermanned starting lineup, Temple had to continue to adjust to playing outside. Houston on Wednesday was the first match the Owls played outdoors all season and the adjustment is taking more than just one match, Mauro said.
“It just takes the girls a little bit longer to get acclimated to playing outside,” Mauro said. “It’s going to take matches and also a good week of solid practice outside. Hopefully the weather will break and we’ll get used to playing outside more.”
Despite the transition to outdoor tennis, Mauro continued to harp on the lack of the normal starting lineup as a detractor for Temple.
“I think if we had our full team we would have won the match today,” Mauro said.
Temple will look to get back on the winning side of things with a match on Tuesday at Lehigh.
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