HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ? In its first road match of the season, the 56th-ranked University of South Alabama women’s tennis team dropped a 5-2 road decision Friday evening to No. 46 Marshall at the Huntington Tennis Club.
USA (2-2) will return to action on Saturday when the Lady Jags face Penn State at 2 p.m. (Eastern). With the win, Marshall improves to 4-2 on the season.
South Alabama opened things up by taking two of the three doubles matches to go up 1-0 early on the Thundering Herd. The Jag duo of Michaela Babicova and Sylvanie Spangenberg defeated Marshall’s Deanna Bailey and Jessica Keener, 8-5 at the No. 2 spot, but the Herds’ Kellie Schmitt and Karolina Soor ? ranked no. 44 by the ITA ? evened things up with an 8-3 victory of their own at the No. 1 position over USA’s Parija and Alina Volman. With doubles tied, South Alabama’s team of Erica Krisan and Katie Welch clinched the point with an 8-6 victory at the third spot.
The Thundering Herd though came out and dominated the singles portion of the match, picking up straight set wins at the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 6 spots. Marshall also picked up a three-set victory at the No. 5 position. USA’s lone singles victory came at No. 4 where Babicova won in three sets (6-7, 6-4, 7-5) over Bailey.
No. 46 Marshall 5, No. 56 University of South Alabama 2
Singles competition
1. No. 33 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. Sylvanie Spangenberg (USAW) 6-2, 6-1
2. Isabell Raich (MAR) def. Parija Maloo (USAW) 6-0, 6-0
3. Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Erica Krisan (USAW) 6-3, 6-4
4. Michaela Babicova (USAW) def. Deanna Bailey (MAR) 6-7, 6-4, 7-5
5. Jessica Keener (MAR) def. Katie Welch (USAW) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
6. Catherine Kellner (MAR) def. Alina Volman (USAW) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. No. 44 Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Parija Maloo/Alina Volman (USAW) 8-3
2. Michaela Babicova/Sylvanie Spangenberg (USAW) def. Deanna Bailey/Jessica Keener (MAR) 8-5
3. Katie Welch/Erica Krisan (USAW) def. Isabell Raich/Catherine Kellner (MAR) 8-6
Match Notes:
University of South Alabama 2-2; National ranking No. 56
Marshall 4-2; National ranking No. 46
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,1,6,3,4,5)
T-4:40 A-103
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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