MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama earned their second win of the season Friday afternoon, beating Auburn-Montgomery 6-1 at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.
The Jags earned a quick win at number one doubles, with the duo of Nikola Novotna and
Luminita Tutunaru earning their first win of the season, defeating Regina Urbiola and Estefania Garcia 6-3. The Jags clinched the doubles point with a win at number two, with
Delien Kleinhans and
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) beating Ane Ibarra/Melissa Yakup Pour 6-3.
With South up 1-0, it was time for singles play, where the Jags won on five of the six courts. Zeghlouli extended the South lead to 2-0, with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Nahia Izco. Tutunaru battled through three sets to extend the South lead to 3-0, beating Melissa Yakup Pour 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Klienhans clinched the match for South win a win at number three, beating Regina Urbiola 5-7, 6-0, 6-3. South extended their lead to 5-0 with wins at number one and four, with Novotna earning her first singles win as a Jag, beating Estefania Garcia in a tiebreaker, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6).
Otoha Aoki won at number four, beating Ana Villalvazo 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).
Auburn-Montgomery earned one win on the day, with Ane Ibarra (AUM-W) beating
Caraline Scheufler 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
South looks to stay in the win column on Sunday, with a match against Xavier (La.) at 1 p.m.
Match Results
January 27, 2023
1 pm – Mobile, Ala.
Singles
1. Nikola Novotna (USA) def. Estefania Garcia (AUM) 8-2, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6)
2.
Luminita Tutunaru (USA) def. Melissa Yakup Pour (AUM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
3.
Delien Kleinhans (USA) def. Regina Urbiola (AUM) 5-7, 6-0, 6-3
4.
Otoha Aoki (USA) def. Ana Villalvazo (AUM) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
5.
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) def. Nahia Izco (AUM) 6-2, 6-0
6. Ane Ibarra (AUM) def.
Caraline Scheufler (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Nikola Novotna/
Luminita Tutunaru (USA) def. Regina Urbiola/Estefania Garcia (AUM-W) 6-3
2.
Delien Kleinhans/
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) def. Ane Ibarra/Melissa Yakup Pour (AUM-W) 6-3
3.
Otoha Aoki/
Caraline Scheufler (USA) vs. Nahia Izco/Isabella Pinto (AUM-W) 2-5, unfinished
Quotable from coach Dr. Jaco Keyser
Opening statement:
"I feel good about it. There are some huge improvements from the last match, this was a tough team. They are really feisty and competitive. They force you to construct a point, but I definitely think we showed improvement. It's anywhere where we want it to be, but sooner or later, we'll get there."
On the ability to fight deep into three sets:
"That's the part that I really loved. With us being a younger team, we are still trying to find our competitive identity and you saw a ton of that today. You saw people competing with their B, C, D games. If that is our standard, we will be in good shape as the season progresses."
Up Next
South Alabama continues its home stand Sunday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts on Sunday to host Xavier (La.) at 1 p.m.
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