Complete Results
TAMPA, Fla. - After their three-match win streak was snapped Thursday, the University of South Alabama women’s tennis team rebounded with a 5-2 win over Richmond Friday at the HCC Tennis Center.
The Jaguars improved to 10-5 in their spring season and have won five out of their last seven matches. The Spiders drop to 3-10.
“It was a good battle today,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “It feels like we are snake bitten on these road trips with regards to our health, but the girls did a good job responding. As a young team they are most definitely learning what it takes to compete on the road.”
USA picked up a quick win on the No. 1 court when sophomore Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) and freshman Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovkia) downed Melissa Kandinata and Katya Salas 8-2. Sophomores Ramona Ghermani (Bad Wimpfen, Germany) and Mariya Krachok (Kiev, Ukraine) clinched the doubles point for the Jaguars with an 8-4 win over Elizabeth Sims and Alex Smyth at No. 2.
In singles action, the Spiders tied the match at 1-1 when Anna Abadias defeated Newton 0-4 (ret.) in the No. 3 flight. South Alabama claimed the next two wins to take a 3-1 lead. Meszarosova topped Sims 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 and Sanchez outlasted Smyth 6-2, 5-7, 6-0 on the No. 6 court.
Kandinata edged Krachok 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot to cut the Spiders' deficit in half to 3-2, but USA sophomore Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) picked up her 12th win of the season and secured the match for USA with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 4.
Freshman Cinta Maria Papke (Flein, Germany) rounded out the day when she topped Emily Gitman 7-6, 4-6, (11-9) on the No. 5 court.
“We definitely took a step forward today,” said Keyser. “If we can continue buying into this system we will be a tough out for anyone by the end of the year.”
The Jaguars are back in action Sunday when they face Hillsborough Community College at 8 a.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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