Complete Results

MOBILE, Ala. – Sophomore Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) earned two points and clinched the win for the University of South Alabama women's tennis team over Georgia State on Friday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Jaguars improved to 11-0 overall and tied the best start in school's history, while the Panthers fell to 7-8 in their spring campaign.

"Today was a big win for us," said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. "Georgia State is the defending Sun Belt Conference champion. On top of that, they're a really good, talented team. To get the win today shows that we are heading in the right direction."

Valkova rallied back from a 5-7 deficit in the first set to defeat Masa Grgan 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. She also paired up with senior Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) to secure the doubles point with an 8-3 victory over Niri Rasolomalala and Kristin Rehse at No. 1.

"This was a good win for Laura because I don't feel like she played one of her better matches," said Keyser. "We spoke as a team that on days we are struggling and lose the first set, we need to stay the course and calm down. Laura did a great job with that today. She didn't play her best but did the little things we talk about in practice. She gave herself the opportunity to stay in the match, and she ultimately played a good third set."

Before Newton and Valkova's win, junior Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia) and sophomore Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) got the Jags on the board when they downed Grgan and Veronika Golanova 8-1 in the No. 3 flight.

In singles action, Mitta dropped Rasolomalala 6-3, 6-0 on the No. 2 court, but Chaimaa Roudami defeated junior Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovakia) 7-5, 6-3 at No. 4, giving the Panthers their first and only point of the day. Senior Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) gave USA a 3-1 lead when she topped Marcia Tere-Apisah 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 6 spot.

Following Valkova's win, sophomore Laura Matuskova (Bratislava, Slovakia) outlasted Golanova 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5, and Newton rounded out the day for the Jaguars when she edged Rehse 7-5, 0-6, 7-5 at the No. 3 position.

"Winning a match like this validates our fitness," said Keyser. "Something that we have been trying to hang our hat on is winning long, three-set matches against quality teams, like Georgia State."

South Alabama returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m. as they host Sun Belt foe Troy.

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).

—USA—