Box Score PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – The University of South Alabama women's tennis team defeated UTA at the Peachtree City Tennis Center for the Sun Belt Tournament title on Sunday.

The Jags won the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. The teams played all six singles matches to competition after tying the score at three. UTA jumped ahead with wins on courts four, five and six; however, South Alabama matched their opponent with wins on one and two. The match point came down to court three where Luminita Tutunaru clinched the match in a third set. 

South Alabama 4, UTA 3
Date: 4/24
Place: Peachtree City Tennis Center (Peachtree City, Ga.)
Records: South Alabama (22-4), UTA (22-3)

DOUBLES
1. Nikola Kohoutova/Tutunaru (USA) vs. Momoka Horiguchi/Tara Gorinsek (UTA) 4-4, unfinished
2. Yu Fujioka/Lara van der Merwe (USA) def. Liz Chileno/Ana Paula Jimenez (UTA) 6-1
3. Milka Pasanen/Otoha Aoki (USA) def. Sarina Reinertsen/Carla Pons (UTA) 6-4
Order of finish: 2,3

SINGLES
1. Fujioka (USA) def. Chileno (UTA) 6-3, 6-3
2. Kohoutova (USA) def. Horiguchi (UTA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Tutunaru (USA) def. Pons (UTA) 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
4. Gorinsek (UTA) def. Pasanen (USA) 6-1, 6-0
5. Reinertsen (UTA) def. Aoki (USA) 6-3, 2-0, retired
6. Paula Jimenez (UTA) def. van der Merwe (USA) 6-2, 6-1 Order of finish: 6,4,5,1,2,3

NOTES
- This is South Alabama's nineteenth Sun Belt title and fourth title under the direction of head coach Jaco Keyser. 
- Aoki and Pasanen clinched the doubles point for their fourth win as a duo. 
- Tutunaru's three singles sets stretched over three hours. 
- Kohoutova finished the season with 18 dual wins. 

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Jaco Keyser
- On today's result: "Sports is a beautiful thing. Last year, making it to the final and losing the way we did was a low point. Today I would say is one of the highlights of the last couple of years. It's an awesome feeling. The girls gave an unbelievable effort. We work hard and our willingness to go deep and search for the courage to keep going is spectacular to see. We should take pride in consistently making it to the finals. We are definitely going to enjoy this one. 

- On the seniors: "I am extremely excited for the three seniors, Milka, Nikola and Yu. We really wanted to win it for them because they really personify everything we want from this program so to send them off on a winning note is an unbelievable feeling." 

Graduate student Nikola Kohoutova
- On her season: "I have just been trying to enjoy every moment. I didn't worry about being player of the year I just wanted to play in this season and this tournament. Since it was my last one I just knew I was going to give my all."

Junior Luminita Tutunaru
- On today's match: "This final match, I did it for the other girls, for our seniors. I want to thank them so much for being my teammates. We all worked very hard together the whole year and thanks to Jaco we got to the final and had a chance to win."

UP NEXT 
-The Jags will await placement in the NCAA tournament. 

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

—USA—