HOUSTON ? The University of South Alabama women’s tennis team downed the Rice Owls 4-3 in a lengthy six-hour match at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
After sweeping doubles play, USA fell behind 3-1 before rallying by winning the final three singles matchups to take the victory.
South Alabama (8-3) started strong, sweeping the doubles competition. USA’s 47th-ranked tandem of Michaela Babaicova and Sylvanie Spangenberg took the first win of the afternoon, defeating the Owls' duo of Ana Guzman and Julie Chao 8-5. Lady Jags Erica Krisan and Katie Welch, and Parija Maloo and Alina Voman followed with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions sealing the doubles point for USA.
In singles play the Lady Jags lost the first three matches on the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 3 courts but came back with victories on the remaining courts to take the 4-3 win.
USA’s Babicova started the comeback, defeating the Owls' Guzman 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on the No. 2 court. Krisan followed with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(7-4) win over Chao at the No. 1 position. South Alabama freshman Alina Volman clinched the victory, downing Shiva-Shankar 7-6(7-5), 5-7, 6-2.
Next the Lady Jags will head to Rock Hill, South Carolina to take on South Carolina-Upstate on March 28 at 2 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251)461-1USA(1872).
Tennis Match Results
University of South Alabama vs Rice
3/21/2009 at Houston, Texas
University of South Alabama 4, Rice 3
Singles competition
1. Erica Krisan (USAW) def. Julie Chao (RICE) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Michaela Babicova (USAW) def. Ana Guzman (RICE) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
3. Rebekka Hänle (RICE) def. Katie Welch (USAW) 6-2, 7-5
4. Jessica Jackson (RICE) def. Parija Maloo (USAW) 6-2, 6-3
5. Rebecca Lin (RICE) def. Sylvanie Spangenberg (USAW) 6-0, 7-5
6. Alina Volman (USAW) def. Varsha Shiva-Shankar (RICE) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Michaela Babicova/Sylvanie Spangenberg (USAW) def. Ana Guzman/Julie Chao (RICE) 8-5
2. Erica Krisan/Katie Welch (USAW) def. Rebecca Lin/Jessica Jackson (RICE) 8-5
3. Parija Maloo/Alina Volman (USAW) def. Rebekka Hänle/Alex Rasch (RICE) 8-6
Match Notes:
University of South Alabama 8-3
Rice 9-8
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,5,3,2,1,6)
--USA--
