ABILENE, TX (05.08.21) - The UT Dallas women's tennis team claimed its second straight and third overall conference title Saturday with a 5-1 win over Hardin-Simmons in the finals of the 2021 American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament, held at the Streich Tennis Center on the HSU campus.

The Comets (now 12-3) will now make its third all-time appearance in the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis National Championship with the 42-team field being announced Monday, May 10, via press release on www.ncaa.com. Eight regional tournaments will be held next weekend with the national finals set fro May 24-30 at the Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.

After falling behind to HSU after an 8-3 loss at No. 3 doubles, the Comets battled back with two key wins in doubles play to take a 2-1 lead. Top-flighted tandem of Kathy Joseph and Samantha Wong earned an 8-5 win over Cowgirls Kaitlyn Hathorn/Lauren Schaeffer at No. 1 before Saumya Vedula and Rebecca Jackson took down HSU's Landry Laywell/Priscilla Schimming, 8-7, at No. 2.

Kathy Joseph pushed the Comets lead over HSU to 3-1 with a quick 6-1, 6-4, win over Hathorn at No. 1 singles before Suzuka Nishino added a straight-set win of her own (6-4, 6-2) at No. 4 over Schimming. Jackson then locked down the championship for the Comets with a 6-2, 6-3, win over Taja Lawrence at No. 5.

When played was halted, Stephanie Joseph was a set up at No. 6 singles while Wong (No. 2) and Vedula (No. 3) had split sets with their respective opponents.

Jackson was tabbed the MVP of the ASC Tournament, leading four Comets named to the event's All-Tournament Team. Joining Jackson were Kathy Joseph, Nishino and Vedula.

The Comets won their first ASC title in 2013 and claimed the league crown again in 2019. The ASC did not hold a women's tennis championship tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.