Results

TROY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's tennis team earned the critical doubles point with ease and senior Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovakia) rallied to clinch the match against Troy Wednesday afternoon at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.

The 43rd-ranked Jaguars keep their win streak alive at seven and move to 17-4 on the season. The Trojans fall to 10-5.

"That was a great team win today in an extremely hostile environment," USA head coach Jaco Keyser said. "I'm extremely proud of the girls in how they struck a balance between keeping their composure and getting in the trenches and flat out outcompeting Troy."

South Alabama lost just two games in claiming the doubles point, winning 6-1 at the top two spots. Freshman Alexandria Stiteler (Bradenton, Fla.) and senior Cinta Maria Papke (Flein, Germany) struck first on court 2, and Meszarosova and junior Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) won on court 1.

Stiteler wasted little time in putting the Jags up 2-0, finishing off Jiayuan Xue 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1, but Sanae Ohta defeated Valkova 6-3, 6-2 to pull the Trojans to 2-1.

The teams split the next two matches on courts 3 and 6 for a 3-2 USA lead. Junior Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) took Hannah Seizer in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, and Luisa Ferrauti ended junior Laura Matuskova's (Bratislava, Slovakia) 12-match win streak, 7-6, 6-4.

Meszarosova lost the first set 6-4 at No. 5, but dropped just three games the rest of the way in a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Efriliya Herlina to clinch the match.

The Trojans' final point of the day came from Nancy Karaky at No. 4, who outlasted Papke 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5).

"There are so many positives to take out of today with regards to our doubles, mental toughness and beating a pretty good team in singles when we did not have the "A" game firing on all cylinders," Keyser said.

"I'm looking forward to get back out on the courts and keep getting better for the postseason."

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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