Results
DENTON, Texas – The University of South Alabama women’s tennis team lost 4-3 to Sun Belt foe Florida International on Saturday at North Texas' Waranch Tennis Center.
The Jaguars dropped to 4-4 overall, while the Panthers picked up their second win of the season improving their record to 2-9.
“I give credit to FIU,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “They are tough with all their players back in the lineup. They played with the urgency and desperation of a defending Sun Belt champ.”
FIU claimed all four points at the top four singles flights.
Rita Maisak defeated senior Alina Volman (Lugansk, Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1, while Sarah McLean topped senior Chané Hines (Johannesburg, South Africa) 6-1, 6-2. Karyn Guttormsen edged Mariya Krachok (Kiev, Ukraine) 6-3, 6-3.
Lisa Johnson outlasted freshman Ramona Ghermani (Bad Wimpfen, Germany) 7-6, 6-4 to secure the win for the Panthers.
“I really think as a team we got angry being close,” said Keyser. “Only hard work will get us over the hump.”
Sophomore Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) rallied back from losing the first set 1-6 to defeat Giulietta Boha 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 6 flight. Freshman Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) won 2-6, 7-6, (10-6) over Christine Seredni at the No. 5 spot.
South Alabama claimed the doubles point with wins on the No. 2 and No. 3 courts.
Ghermani and Martin topped Boha and Guttormsen 8-4, while Volman and Krachok picked up the win over Seredni and Johnson 8-6. Hines and Newton fell 9-8 to Maisak and McLean.
“Today was the best doubles we have played so far this year,” said Keyser. “That’s encouraging. The good news is we played the two best teams in the conference pretty close. The bad news is that we didn’t win.”
The Jaguars return to action at home March 4 against Hillsborough Community College at 1 p.m.
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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