The Howard Payne women’s tennis team suffered an 8-1 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor but will still head to the American Southwest Conference tournament next weekend in Tyler, Texas.

The Lady Jackets were only able to pick up one point versus Mary Hardin-Baylor in the number six singles match. Samantha Guerrero defeated Penelope Kittel of UMHB 7-5, 6-3. HPU also lost a close one in the number four singles spot with Jenna Johnson losing in the third set 7-6, 6-7, 10-8.

Howard Payne finishes the regular season at 7-14 overall and 4-2 ASC West play. Mary Hardin-Baylor stands at 11-5 overall and 5-1 ASC. With HPU’s victory over Hardin-Simmons earlier in the week and a later HSU loss, the Lady Jackets secure the number three spot in the final ASC West Division standings and a spot in the conference tournament this next weekend in Tyler, Texas. The ASC will release the official tournament bracket and information by Monday morning.

The Howard Payne men’s tennis team dropped a heartbreaker 5-4 to Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon to end the regular season.

The difference in the match was the number three double. Holding match point but not able to convert, John Sanuel and Jacob Carrillo fell to John Martin and James Turner of UMHB 9-7. Jacob Cadena also lost in the third set 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 in number four singles.

Howard Payne stands at 7-10 overall and 3-3 ASC West play. Mary Hardin-Baylor is 9-6 overall and 5-1 ASC. The loss placed the Jackets in a three-way tie for third place in the ASC West Division. With the top three spots in the standings advancing to the ASC tournament, the Jacket loss in the ASC tiebreaking system and their season ended with the UMHB loss.