NORFOLK, Va. --- The University of South Alabama won doubles and took the first three singles matches quickly to defeat No. 50 Old Dominion 5-2 Sunday at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.

The Jaguars win their 10th straight match ? second in a row over a ranked opponent ? and stand at 13-3 on the season. The Monarchs fall to 18-6.

“It was a real gritty, competitive performance,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “It’s one of those where, as a coach, you like. Things weren’t clicking on all cylinders but we just dug in and scraped out a win.”

South Alabama won 8-3 at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles and needed a comeback from seniors Sylvanie Spangenberg (Pretoria, South Africa) and Michaela Babicova (Piestany, Slovakia) to take No. 1 8-6.

“The last match or two, doubles have been a lot better,” said Keyser. “We usually play good doubles but we dipped about a week or two ago but our curve is really going upwards again.”

The Jags won the first three singles decisions in straight sets to clinch the victory. Babicova started things with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Charleen Haarhoff and sophomore Parija Maloo (Mahrastra, India) won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4. The win was sealed with freshman Alina Volman’s (Lugansk, Ukraine) 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 6.

“It’s nice to get those quick three singles points because it seems like every match we play it drags out to the last match or two,” said Keyser.

USA sophomore Katie Welch (Mobile, Ala.) pulled off an unbelievable comeback at No. 3, rallying from 5-1 down in the second set to win 5-7, 7-5, (11-9). It was her fifth straight victory and 10th in her last 11 outings.

“She’s got a lot of wins under her belt,” said Keyser. “Once you get that winning streak going you always seem to find ways to stay there.”

Sophomore Erica Krisan (Marietta, Ga.) had her 11-match win streak ended 6-2, 6-1 by Nadine Fahoum.

South Alabama wraps up regular season play next weekend at the Sun Belt Championships in Denton, Texas.

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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