NORFOLK, Va. --- The University of South Alabama women’s tennis team swept doubles en route to its ninth straight win, defeating No. 47 Virginia Commonwealth 5-2 Saturday afternoon at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.

The Jaguars move to 12-3 while the Rams fall to 16-8. It is South Alabama’s first win over a top-50 opponent this season (1-1).

“It was a typical match when we play VCU,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “It comes down to a couple of points, a couple of games and it seems like we usually lose those points but today we got lucky and pulled out a couple of close matches.”

USA won at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles easily but needed a big comeback to complete the sweep. Sophomores Erica Krisan (Marietta, Ga.) and Katie Welch (Mobile, Ala.) trailed 5-2 before taking six of the next seven games to prevail 8-6.

“We got off to a bad start but like I told them afterwards, they made some corrections that allowed them to get back in the match,” said Keyser. “We can’t start off that slow in doubles because you’re not going to be able to get back in matches every single time.”

In singles play the two teams split the first four matches for a 3-2 score with Nos. 1 and 3 tied at one set apiece. Welch won in a tiebreaker at No. 3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3), to clinch the match for the Jags.

Krisan finished up by winning her 11th straight match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 over Ana Bara.

“It was a good, solid team effort,” said Keyser. “We’re still a couple of points away from putting out a real solid match. Hopefully tomorrow everyone shows up and we can play a complete match.”

South Alabama faces No. 50 Old Dominion Sunday at 11 a.m.

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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