Things started out well for the Hornets as they took the doubles point behind wins at two and three doubles coming from Adam Coyne and Ronald Mataba's 6-0 win at two and Takura Mlambo and Digvijay Singh Naruka's 6-3 win at three.

The men could not keep the momentum going in the singles action with the lone singles win for the Hornets coming with Naruka's 6-3, 6-3 win at six singles.

All of the singles matches were close as ASU's Dylan Cleary lost a three set heart breaker at one singles and Jarred Thompson losing 6-3, 6-4 at two, Matabe losing 6-3, 6-1 on three, Stefan Vojnic 6-1, 6-2 at five and Coyne falling 7-5 (7-4), 6-4 at four singles.

"That is a match we should have won," Head Coach Anuk Christiasz said. "We won at six and picked up the doubles point, but we should have picked up wins at one, three and four. They still competed hard we just have to get over the hump and learn to finish, but I know we will get there."

The women's match started with Mercer winning the doubles point taking all three doubles matches by identical 6-2 scores. Mercer then completed the sweep by winning all six singles matches even though several were highly competitive.

Pauline Denis lost 6-0, 7-6 with a 7-3 tie break in the second set while Irinia Cvijovic lost 7-6, 7-6 with a 7-5 tie break in the first set and a 7-4 tiebreak in the second set.

"I thought the girls played really well and competed hard," Christiansz said. "We are so much better than we were two years ago when we got here. I am happy with their effort and the work they are putting in and it is going to pay off. We are still young in some areas and just have to get better in others, but the girls have come a long way."

Both teams will look to pick up their first win of the season Tuesday, Feb. 4 when they host Stillman College at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center at 1 p.m.

Mercer 5, Alabama State University 2
Jan 31, 2014 at Macon, Ga. (LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Oliver Snaider (MER_M) def. Dylan Cleary (ALST) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

2. Arnav Mohanty (MER_M) def. Jarred Thompson (ALST) 6-3, 6-4

3. Anderson Scarpa (MER_M) def. Ronald Mataba (ALST) 6-3, 6-1

4. Austin Emmit (MER_M) def. Adam Coyne (ALST) 7-5 (7-4), 6-4

5. Manuel De Luis (MER_M) def. Stefan Vojnic (ALST) 6-1, 6-2

6. Digvijay Singh Naruka (ALST) def. Arsav Mohanty (MER_M) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Oliver Snaider/Austin Emmit (MER_M) def. Dylan Cleary/Jarred Thompson (ALST) 6-2

2. Adam Coyne/Ronald Mataba (ALST) def. Arnav Mohanty/Arsav Mohanty (MER_M) 6-0

3. Takura Mlambo/Digvijay Singh Naruka (ALST) def. Anderson Scarpa/Manuel De Luis (MER_M) 6-3

Match Notes

Alabama State University 0-3

Mercer 2-7

Women
Mercer 7, Alabama State 0
Jan 31, 2014 at Macon, Ga. (LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Danielle Jones (MER) def. Arantxia Wihingaarde (ALSTW) 6-0, 6-0

2. Lucie Payrat (MER) def. Pauline Denis (ALSTW) 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)

3. Roxy Bartz (MER) def. Brankica Orlovic (ALSTW) 6-3, 6-3

4. Natalie Franklin (MER) def. Irina Cvijovic (ALSTW) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4)

5. Haley Powell (MER) def. Nathalie Lorenco (ALSTW) 6-2, 6-1

6. Liza Klyachkin (MER) def. Brianna Fairley (ALSTW) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Danielle Jones/Lucie Payrat (MER) def. Pauline Denis/Arantxia Wihingaarde (ALSTW) 6-2

2. Roxy Bartz/Haley Powell (MER) def. Melissa Telfer/Nathalie Lorenco (ALSTW) 6-2

3. Natalie Franklin/Liza Klyachkin (MER) def. Brankica Orlovic/Irina Cvijovic (ALSTW) 6-2

Match Notes

Alabama State 0-3

Mercer 1-1