MOBILE, Ala. – After dropping the doubles point, the University of South Alabama women's tennis team won five singles matches to defeat Georgia State 5-2 Friday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Jaguars improved to 16-4 with Friday's victory, while the Panthers dropped to 10-8 on the season. 

"What a day," said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. "I don't know if it was the crowd, but we put out some good singles."

To begin singles, sophomore Patricia Martins (Lisbon, Portugal) fell to Damira Muminovic 6-4, 6-0 on court No. 5 to put the Jags at a 2-0 deficit. 

Senior Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) defeated Daniela Ramirez 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3, and senior Laura Matuskova (Bratislava, Slovakia) tied it with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Anastasia Grosheva on court No. 4. Sophomore Alexandria Stiteler (Bradenton, Fla.) bested Kristin Rehse 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1, and sophomore Alina Zolotareva (Barnaul, Russia) clinched the victory for USA by defeating Lara Vovk 7-5, 6-1 on court No. 6.

"Early on, we were engaging in our matches," Keyser said. "Towards the end, we were playing some really good tennis, and that's satisfying to see."

In doubles, Ramirez and Grosheva dropped Matuskova and Zolotareva 6-0 at No. 3, and Arina Taluyenko and Tarani Kamoe defeated senior Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) and Martins 6-2 at No. 2 to give the Panthers the doubles point.

"It was an awful doubles point," said Keyser. "That's about as bad as it's going to get, but I'm proud that we were able to rebound from it."

In other singles action, Valkova beat Taluyenko 6-4, 6-3 on court No. 2.

"What I'm excited about is we were able to regroup after doubles and have the mental toughness to get back in the match," Keyser said.

The Jags return to action Saturday at 11 a.m. to face Coastal Carolina at home.

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).

Join the Baseline Club, the tennis-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Baseline Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's and women's tennis programs. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/baselineclub

—USA—