Mercer's Lady Bears (2-5) won the doubles point winning two of the doubles matches.  The teams were even at four in two doubles when Mercer finished the point winning 6-3 at one doubles.
 
ASU (1-4) got singles wins from Marine Cartier, Brankica Orlovic and Nicole Tekelova.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of our girls and the way they are competing," Head Coach Anuk Christiansz said.  "Mercer beat us 7-0 last year so you can see how much progress the girls are making.  We brought in two really good players this year and it is making us stronger.  Both of those players won their singles matches today."
 
"The girls just play hard, they work hard every day in practice and it shows.  Now saying that we still have a ways to go.  We have to get better production in doubles play.  This was one of those days where we could have won the match if we had stepped up in doubles and won that point, so we have some work to do."
 
The men's match went much like the women's with Mercer (4-7) winning the doubles point with wins at one and three.  ASU led 5-4 at two doubles when play was stopped.

ASU (0-6) could not get a lot going in singles action with Mercer pulling in wins at all six single matches.  At two singles Takura Mlambo went three games losing 10-8 in a third set tiebreak while Ronald Mataba had a strong showing in a 7-6, 6-4 loss at four singles.
 
"I like the way the men are competing, but we just can't seem to get over the hump," Christiansz said.  "We have to get more production from the bottom of the lineup and we have to get better in doubles play.  I still believe once conference play comes around we will be ready for it, but I want to see the guys step up a little more."
 
Both teams will be back on the courts Friday Feb. 20 when they host Jacksonville State at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center.  The matches are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
 
Women
Mercer 4, Alabama State University 3
Feb 15, 2015 at Montgomery, Ala. (Olean Black Underwood Tennic Center)

Singles competition

1. Xandra Fougner (MER) def. Arantxia Wijngaarde (ALSTW) 6-4, 6-3

2. Marine Cartier (ALSTW) def. Grace Korta (MER) 6-2, 6-4

3. Brankica Orlovic (ALSTW) def. Haley Powell (MER) 7-5, 5-4, retired

4. Roxy Bartz (MER) def. Irina Cvijovic (ALSTW) 6-4, 6-0

5. Liza Klyachkin (MER) def. Matabe Akoachere (ALSTW) 6-1, 6-4

6. Nicole Tekelova (ALSTW) def. Laura Kelly (MER) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

 

Doubles competition

1. Grace Korta/Roxy Bartz (MER) def. Arantxia Wijngaarde/Marine Cartier (ALSTW) 6-3

2. Irina Cvijovic/Brankica Orlovic (ALSTW) vs. Xandra Fougner/Haley Powell (MER) 4-4, unfinished

3. Liza Klyachkin/Laura Kelly (MER) def. Nathalie Lorenco/Nicole Tekelova (ALSTW) 6-1

 

Match Notes

Mercer 2-5

Alabama State University 1-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,2,4,1,3,6)

T-2:30 A-30

 
Men
Mercer 7, Alabama State University 0
Feb 15, 2015 at Montgomery, Ala. (Olean Black Underwood Tennic Center)

Singles competition

1. Sam Philp (MER) def. Patrik Cvik (ALST) 6-4, 6-2

2. Anderson Scarpa (MER) def. Takura Mlambo (ALST) 4-6, 6-2, 10-8

3. Arnav Mohanty (MER) def. Karlo Skovrc (ALST) 6-2, 6-4

4. Manuel de Luis (MER) def. Ronald Mataba (ALST) 7-6, 6-4

5. Arsav Mohanty (MER) def. Digvijay Naruka (ALST) 6-3, 6-2

6. Ruben Vanoppen (MER) def. Jarred Thompson (ALST) 6-4, 6-2

 

Doubles competition

1. Arnav Mohanty/Arsav Mohanty (MER) def. Patrik Cvik/Digvijay Naruka (ALST) 6-3

2. Karlo Skovrc/Takura Mlambo (ALST) vs. Austin Emmet/Ruben Vanoppen (MER) 5-4, unfinished

3. Sam Philp/Anderson Scarpa (MER) def. Ronald Mataba/Adam Coyne (ALST) 6-2

 

Match Notes

Mercer 4-7

Alabama State University 0-6

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,5,3,6,2,4)

T-2:15 A-25