MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s tennis team fell for the first time in history to Sun Belt Conference foe Arkansas State 5-2 Sunday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

“We just completely self destruct and don’t give ourselves a chance,” USA head coach Jaco Keyser said. “We’ve just got to keep on working at it and start playing a lot more disciplined tennis.”

This loss brings the all-time series between South Alabama and Arkansas State to 11-1.

At No. 2 doubles USA’s Marie Boura and Jess Courtnell fell to ASU’s Menna Kamal and Jenny Herring 8-4 securing the point for the Red Wolves. The Jaguar duo of Katie Welch and Chané Hines were down 7-3, but rallied back, going to a tie breaker before ultimately dropping the match 8-7 (8-6) to Elné Barnard and Roné van Wyk on the No. 1 court.

“If we stop giving them the lead and boosting their confidence and start tightening up a little bit we would be in that match,” said Keyser. “We’ve just got to start giving ourselves a chance.”

In singles action, the Jags’ Hines fell to van Wyk by a 6-2, 6-1 decision at the No. 3 flight clinching the match for Arkansas State. South Alabama did not give up and followed with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. At No. 2 singles USA’s Boura dominated Herring in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, followed by Welch’s 6-2, 6-2 triumph over ASU’s Barnard at the No. 1 spot.

“At No. 1 and No. 2 singles we played a little bit higher percentage and cut down on the unforced errors and the outcome took care of itself,” Keyser said. “We should win matches like those. We should win all of these matches if we’d just start executing.”

The Red Wolves earned wins at No. 3 doubles and Nos. 5 and 6 singles by default.

Next up for the Jags is Sun Belt Conference rival Troy on March 28 at 11 a.m. at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts. Admission to all home matches is free.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251)461-1USA(1872).

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