Results
DENTON, Texas – The University of South Alabama women’s tennis team fell 5-2 to Sun Belt Conference foe No. 60 North Texas Friday at the Waranch Tennis Center.
“This was a very disappointing loss,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “I give credit to North Texas. They absorbed our blows in doubles and hung in there. In singles they came out swinging and we fell flat on our backs.”
The Mean Green (7-4) went undefeated in doubles to take a 1-0 lead.
Irina Paraschiv and Franzis Sprinkmeyer rallied after falling behind 5-1 to freshman Ramona Ghermani (Bad Wimpfen, Germany) and Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) to win 8-6 at the No. 3 spot. Nadia Lee and Barbora Vykydalova clinched the doubles point after taking the 8-5 victory over senior Chané Hines (Johannesburg, South Africa) and sophomore Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) in the No. 1 flight.
Kseniya Bardabush and Valentina Starkova outlasted senior Alina Volman (Lugansk, Ukraine) and freshman Mariya Krachok (Kiev, Ukraine) 9-7, after falling behind 5-2 to start the match, on the No. 2 court.
“Not winning doubles was tough,” said Keyser. “It was very frustrating since we know we have the tools and game plans, but our execution is still way off.”
Newton and Martin were the only Jags to earn points on the day. At the No. 6 spot, Newton defeated Sprinkmeyer 6-1, 6-2 and Martin picked up the victory against Vykydalova 6-3, 7-5 on the No. 5 court.
UNT topped USA in straight sets in the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 flights.
Volman fell 6-0, 6-4 to Bardabush, while Lee dropped only one game in her win over Hines 6-1, 6-0. Starkova edged Ghermani 6-3, 6-3 and Krachok lost 6-3, 6-3 to Ilona Serchenko.
“As a team we have to be tougher and stronger when someone hits us in the mouth like that,” said Keyser. “As a coach I have to prepare us to be stronger for these situations. The good thing is that everyone wants to get better. I am confident we will learn from today and win this conference in April.”
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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