PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – The University of South Alabama women's tennis team won three singles matches in straight sets to defeat No. 8 seed Georgia Southern 4-1 and win the Sun Belt Conference championship Sunday afternoon at the Peachtree Tennis Center.

The Jaguars claim their 18th league title and will enter their 12th NCAA Tournament with a 22-4 record. The Eagles fall to 14-13.

DOUBLES
-Sophomore Nikola Kohoutova and freshman Yurie Takanishi dispatched Lindsay Truscott and Charlotte van Diemen 6-1 on court 3
-Seniors Alexandria Stiteler and Patricia Martins put the Jags up 1-0 on court 2, holding off a rally from Luisa Hrda and Paula Boixader for a 6-4 win

SINGLES
-Fujioka quickly doubled the Jaguar lead at No. 2, winning 6-2, 6-1 over Emilia Bujan
-Hrda responded on court 3 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Milka Pasanen
-Kohoutova dropped just three games in her 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Boixader at No. 3 for a 3-1 USA advantage
-After needing a tiebreaker in the first set, Stiteler blitzed Arianne de Winter in the second to clinch the title, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1

QUOTES FROM COACH KEYSER
On winning another conference championship: "I'm absolutely exhausted. I really wanted it for this group, especially for our two seniors. They legitimately put in the work. We didn't play our best tennis today, but we earned it with our fitness and conditioning. I felt like there was no way we were going to lose there at the end."

On Fujioka: "She was a little nervy in the doubles but really settled down. She puts in the work and wants to get better, so it should not be a surprise when she produces at this level."

On Stiteler clinching the title: "It couldn't be more fitting. It came full circle. I know she's not happy with some of her performances this year, but there's a reason she's probably the best player that's ever been at South Alabama and in the Sun Belt."

NOTES
-USA's 18 league titles are the most in Sun Belt history
-South Alabama is 7-0 all-time vs. Georgia Southern
-The Jaguars' last league title came in 2015
-Stiteler improves to 16-6 at No. 1 singles; her .727 win percentage at the top flight leads the conference
-Kohoutova is now 19-4 on the season; the 19 wins are second in the Sun Belt behind Hrda
-Fujioka has won her last five matches and 15 of her last 16

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will learn of their NCAA Tournament opponent on April 29 at 5:30 p.m. CDT.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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
 
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