MONTGOMERY, Ala – Alabama State University's tennis teams were on court Saturday, as the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) moved into the last day of its regular season.

The day was full of action, featuring matches against defending SWAC champions, in-state rivals, and, as it was the last home game of the season, recognized and honoured the seniors of the team who were playing their last collegiate match on the blue and grey courts of the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Centre.

Adam Coyne, Irina Cvijovic, Brianna Fairley, Ronald Mataba, Jarred Thompson, and Arantxia Wijngaarde, prior to the Alabama A & M match, received their senior photos and were all acknowledged for their contribution and dedication to the tennis programs.

"It's great to celebrate the achievements of these guys.  Today is a day for them to enjoy with friends and family as they have all given so much to helping our program grow, both on and off the court, to being one of the best in the SWAC" said head tennis coach Anuk Christiansz of the occasion.

Before the senior day festivities, the first match of the day saw defending SWAC champions Southern take on the Lady Hornets, one of the prime challengers aiming to become acquainted with the title this season.

The Lady Hornets (13-6, 7-0 SWAC) started strongly going up by double breaks of serve at the one and three positions.  They did enough to hold on with Marine Cartier and Patricia Regel winning 6-0, and Wijngaarde and Brankica Orlovic serving it out at the second time of asking to win 6-4, and give ASU the point.

Playing without Cartier at number two, who was rested for singles, meant all but Wijngaarde played in a position higher than their usual starting roles.  As singles matches wore on, the doubles point was beginning to look more and more crucial as ASU won the first set on only three courts; one, two, and four.  But despite the line-up changes it was the experience of two of the Lady Hornet's seniors that proved vital, with Wijngaarde a 6-3, 6-2 winner at one, and Irina Cvijovic triumphing 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the match.

After a delayed start, play between Alabama State and rivals Alabama A & M was underway, although it didn't last long. The Hornets and Lady Hornets alike simply outclassed their in-state rivals to register 4-0 wins.

It was also a chance for Christiansz to put senior Brianna Fairley in the singles line-up to play her last home match in front of friends and her visiting family.  She didn't disappoint either, clinching the winning point for the Lady Hornets with her comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 win at number six.

For the Hornets (6-7, 4-1 SWAC), Patrik Cvik didn't drop a game at number six with a ruthless 6-0, 6-0 display and senior Jarred Thompson just dropping a single game at five with a 6-1, 6-0 effort.  It was then a race between countrymen Takura Mlambo and Mataba at the one and two spots to determine who would clinch the match, with Mlambo earning the fourth point for ASU with a 6-2, 6-2 display.

The conclusion of regular season SWAC competition sees the Lady Hornets undefeated, earning themselves the top seed in New Orleans for the conference championship in April.  For the men, they also will receive a bye in the first round of the tournament by virtue of being a top two seed.

"I'm really happy for the teams.  We've worked hard to be in this position and reward ourselves with the bye in the first round but we won't be complacent.  Both the guys and the girls know what the SWAC tournament can throw at you.  But we will be ready for New Orleans that's for sure" said Christiansz at days end.

The teams will have a few days off to recover over spring break before returning to practice mid-week in preparation for their next encounter, when they will travel to Macon, Ga. to face Mercer University on Sunday, March 27. 
Alabama State University 4-2 Southern University
Women's Doubles:
1. Wijngaarde/Orlovic (ASU) def. Moore/Chirewa (SU) 6-4
2. Raymond/Kent (SU) def. Lackova/Tekelova (ASU) 6-2
3. Cartier/Regel (ASU) def. Syori/Neal (SU) 6-0
Women's Singles:
1. A. Wijngaarde (ASU) def. L. Syori (SU) 6-3 6-2
2. G. Lackova (ASU) def. D. Moore (SU) 6-4 6-4
3. P. Regel (ASU) vs. A. Materre (SU) 4-6 6-4 2-3 unfinished.
4. I. Cvijovic (ASU) def. R. Chirewa (SU) 6-2 6-4
5. M. Kent (SU) def. N. Tekelova (ASU) 6-2 6-4
6. D. Raymond (SU) def. B. Orlovic (ASU) 6-1 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,5,2,4*) _{*Clinched Match}

Alabama State University 4-0 Alabama A & M University
Men's Doubles:
1. Thompson/Cvik (ASU) vs. Nadaraja/Elvin (AAMU) 4-2 unfinished.
2. Mlambo/Coyne (ASU) def. Monroy/Beazer (AAMU) 6-2
3. Mataba/Skvorc (ASU) def. Salas/Gray (AAMU) 6-1
Men's Singles:
1. T. Mlambo (ASU) def. N. Nadaraja (AAMU) 6-2 6-2
2. R. Mataba (ASU) vs. C. Salas (AAMU) 6-2 5-2 unfinished.
3. K. Skvorc (ASU) vs. M. Monroy (AAMU) 6-1 3-3 unfinished.
4. S. Pusztay (ASU) vs. S. Elvin (AAMU) 6-3 3-1 unfinished.
5. J. Thompson (ASU) def. A. Gray (AAMU) 6-1 6-0
6. P. Cvik (ASU) def. J. Beazer (AAMU) 6-0 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,5,1*) _{*Clinched Match}

Alabama State University 4-0 Alabama A & M University
Women's Doubles:
1. Wijngaarde/Orlovic (ASU) vs. Hollos/Khalid (AAMU) 5-3 unfinished
2. Lackova/Tekelova (ASU) def. Rodriguez/Smith (AAMU) 6-3
3. Cartier/Regel (ASU) def. Desgagne/Sathe (AAMU) 6-1
Women's Singles:
1. A. Wijngaarde (ASU) vs. V. Hollos (AAMU) 6-0 3-1
2. G. Lackova (ASU) def. O. Rodriguez (AAMU) 6-0 6-1
3. P. Regel (ASU) vs. A. Sathe (AAMU) 6-3 0-2
4. I. Cvijovic (ASU) def. S. Smith (AAMU) 6-0 6-1
5. N. Tekelova (ASU) vs. R. Khalid (AAMU) 6-1 5-0
6. B. Fairley (ASU) def. A. Desgagne (AAMU) 6-1 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,4,6*) _{*Clinched Match}