Complete Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of South Alabama women's tennis team earned a 4-2 victory after a hard-fought match against North Florida Saturday at the UNF Tennis Complex.

The Jaguars improved to 10-0, their best start since going 11-0 in 2008, while the Ospreys fell to 8-3.

"Great win today," said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. "It most definitely validates our fitness and toughness on a day where we struggled slightly with our ball striking."

After losing the first doubles match, the Jaguars battled back to take an early 1-0 lead. The No. 80 doubles pairing of sophomore Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) and senior Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) defeated Taylor Hollander and Esther Zuniga 8-6 on the No. 1 court. Senior Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) and junior Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovakia) clinched the doubles point defeating Luise Intert and Rebeca Pereira 8-6 at No. 2.

Quetzali Vazquez and Michelle Valdez outlasted sophomore Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) and junior Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia) 8-3 on court No. 3.

UNF tied the match at 1-1 when Newton fell to Zuniga 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 2 position, but Valkova regained the lead for the Jags downing Hollander 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1.

Valdez needed three sets to outlast Mitta 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot, evening the score at 2-2. Then, Meszarosova put USA on top with a 6-3, 5-5 (ret.) victory over Vazquez at No. 4. Martin clinched the match for the Jaguars defeating Intert 7-5, 6-1 on the No. 6 court.

"To outcompete a quality team like North Florida says a lot about our mental toughness," Keyser said. "I cannot wait to get back on the practice courts and keep improving."

The Jaguars return to action Friday at 2 p.m. when they host Georgia State.

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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