MONROE, La. ? The South Alabama women’s tennis team, seeded second in the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Tournament advanced Saturday morning to the semifinal round with a 4-1 victory over seventh-seeded -Arkansas State at the Heard Tennis Courts.  USA will now take on third-seeded Florida International later this evening and with a win will advance to the championship match on Sunday.

Second seeded USA (18-4) opened up the match by capturing doubles victories at Nos. 1 and 2 spots to take an early 1-0 lead.  The Jag team of Michaela Babicova and Katie Welch picked up an 8-2 win at No. 2 and then the team of Adrianna Solarova and Sylvanie Spangenberg clinched the point with an 8-3 win at No. 1.  South Alabama’s Jelena Krivacevic and Erica Krisan were also leading 7-3 at No. 3 when doubles play was halted.

In singles action, Krisan (6-3, 6-4) and Krivacevic (7-6, 6-2) captured straight set wins at Nos. 3 and 6 to put the Jags one point away from the match victory, before ASU’s Renee Branker prevented the shut out with a three set win (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) at No. 5.  Babicova sealed the match win for South Alabama, however, with a 7-6, 6-0 win at No. 2.

No. 45 University of South Alabama 4, Arkansas State 1

April 19, 2008 at Monroe, La.

 Singles competition

1. Adrianna Solarova (USAW) vs. Maria Oprea (ASU) 6-7, 4-3, unfinished

2. Michaela Babicova (USAW) def. Paula Chelminska (ASU) 7-6, 6-0

3. Erica Krisan (USAW) def. Rone Van Wyk (ASU) 6-3, 6-4

4. Katie Welch (USAW) vs. Leydi Zora (ASU) 6-4, 6-6, unfinished

5. Renee Branker (ASU) def. Sylvanie Spangenberg (USAW) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

6. Jelena Krivacevic (USAW) def. Emily Laing (ASU) 7-6, 6-2

 Doubles competition

1. Sylvanie Spangenberg/Adrianna Solarova (USAW) def. Renee Branker/Emily Laing (ASU) 8-3

2. Michaela Babicova/Katie Welch (USAW) def. Maria Oprea/Paula Chelminska (ASU) 8-2

3. Erica Krisan/Jelena Krivacevic (USAW) vs. Rone Van Wyk/Leydi Zora (ASU) 7-3, unfinished

Match Notes:

Arkansas State 13-10

University of South Alabama 18-4; National ranking No. 45

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,6,5,2)