Results

MOBILE, Ala. – Five straight-sets wins in singles and a dominating performance in doubles gave the University of South Alabama women's tennis team a 6-1 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday afternoon at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Jaguars, playing their first match since March 13, improve to 11-1 on the season while the Ragin' Cajuns fall to 6-13.

USA lost just three games total in taking the doubles point and won flights 2-6 in singles.

"In hindsight, I'd say the break was good for us," Jaguar head coach Jaco Keyser said. "I thought we came out really fresh and really focused, and it looked like we were ready to go from the first ball.

"Everyone did their job. From 1-6, they gave us a shot at each singles spot, and when they got the lead, they did the little things right to turn competitive matches into easy matches."

The Jags' pairs at Nos. 2 and 3 quickly took the doubles point. Freshmen Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) and Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) defeated Juliette Clement and Melissa Burckhartt 8-2 at No. 2, and sophomore Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia) and freshman Laura Matuskova (Bratislava, Slovakia) dropped Alexandra Way and Julie Cremers 8-1 at No. 3.

"That was one of the better doubles points we played so far this year," Keyser said. "We didn't give anything away; we put the pressure on our opponents, and we when do that, we've got some pretty good doubles over here."

Sanchez dispatched Way in short order 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6 and Valkova put the Jags up 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 2 against Nicole Breaux.

The match was sealed by junior Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) who dropped three games in a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 5.

"I think across the board, we didn't give anything away," Keyser noted. "We came out, played high-percentage tennis and that's nice to see. That's one of the most complete matches we've played this year."

Mitta and junior Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) accounted for the final two Jaguar points of the day. Mitta downed Cremers 6-4, 6-0 on the No. 4 court and Newton rallied from a second-set deficit to defeat Burckhartt 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

Nelo Phiri earned the Ragin Cajuns' only win in three sets at No. 1 over sophomore Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovavkia), 3-6, 6-2, (10-5).

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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