MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama got behind early but battled back in singles play to defeat West Alabama 5-2 in the opening match of the season.
West Alabama earned quick wins at number one and three, with Haina Franco and Ming Deewajee defeating Nikola Novotna
Luminita Tutunaru 6-4 on court one and Heden Ly and Hardija Vidnere beating
Otoha Aoki and
Caraline Scheufler 6-4 at number three.
With South down 0-1, attention turned to singles, where South was able to gain ground. The Jags tied the match at 1-1, with
Caraline Scheufler beating Emiri Takanishi 6-0, 6-2 at number six.
West Alabama took the lead again soon after with a win on court one, with Haina Franco defeating Nikola Novotna 6-3, 6-3. The Tigers were up 2-1, but things were all South Alabama moving forward, earning wins on the remaining courts, to secure the 5-2 win.
Delien Kleinhans downed Heden Ly of West Alabama 7-5, 6-2 to tie the match at 2-2 before freshman
Chems Doha Zeghlouli earned her first win as a Jaguar, beating Ming Deewajee 6-1, 7-5.
Luminita Tutunaru clinched the match with a win on court two, battling through three sets to beat
Yurie Takanishi 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. South extended the lead to 5-2 after winning on court four, with
Otoha Aoki defeating Hardija Vidnere 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).
Match Results
January 23, 2023
1:30 pm – Mobile, Ala.
Singles
1. Haina Franco (UWAW) def. Nikola Novotna (USA) 6-3, 6-3
2.
Luminita Tutunaru (USA) def.
Yurie Takanishi (UWA) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
3.
Delien Kleinhans (USA) def. Heden Ly (UWA) 7-5, 6-2
4.
Otoha Aoki (USA) def. Hardija Vidnere (UWA) 7-5 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6
5.
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) def. Ming Deewajee (UWA) 6-1, 7-5
6.
Caraline Scheufler (USA) def. Emiri Takanishi (UWA) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. Haina Franco/Ming Deewajee (UWAW) def. Nikola Novotna/
Luminita Tutunaru (USA) 6-4
2.
Delien Kleinhans/
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) vs. Emiri Takanishi/
Yurie Takanishi (UWAW) 4-5, unfinished
3. Heden Ly/Hardija Vidnere (UWAW) def.
Otoha Aoki/
Caraline Scheufler (USA) 6-4
Quotable from coach Dr. Jaco Keyser
"We are glad to get the season started. It was a little bit of a nervous start from the girls, we came out a little tentative. West Alabama is a top-five Division II program. They've got some good players who can play. Overall, very excited about the composure, the fight and the intensity they showed out there. We've definitely got a long way to go, but our mindset is in the right spot and we will get better with more repetitions we get."
Up Next
South Alabama returns to action Friday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts on Saturday to host Auburn-Montgomery at 1 p.m.
Follow the Jags
For complete coverage of University South Alabama women's tennis, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabamaJaguars (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaWTN (Facebook), @southalabamawtn (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at USAJaguars.com.
