Montgomery, Ala. – Both the men's and women's tennis programs were in action for Alabama State University on Saturday, as they played host to the University of West Alabama at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center.

It was a mixed day for ASU with the women recording a 5-2 victory with the men falling 3-4 in an encounter that came down to the last match of the day.

"The doubles is always big because it just puts you in such a hard position to win four singles if you don't get it, and that's what happened to the guys today" said head tennis coach Anuk Christiansz.  "The women did a good job of responding to dropping the point with some good singles play on all courts but for the guys that doubles proved to be decisive.  We split singles but it just wasn't enough to get the win today" he said.

Even though they dropped the doubles point, Christiansz can be satisfied with the performance of the Lady Hornets on the singles court.  "They are all playing with some confidence at the moment.  That little bit extra always helps in big moments, knowing you've been there already this season and come through them" Christiansz said.

Some confidence is one thing, but the Lady Hornets (9-5, 4-0 SWAC) are steamrolling having won their last six straight matches, a feat unprecedented in the Christiansz era.

After the doubles point and a quick victory at one singles, West Alabama were nicely poised at 2-0 and were only two matches away from taking the tie with five matches still left to play.  That would be their last glimmer of hope for a while, with Marine Cartier, Patricia Regel, Irina Cvijovic, and Nicole Tekelova all picking up straight sets wins at two, four, five, and six respectively. 

Even with the result no longer in doubt, West Alabama couldn't get another point after Gabriela Lackova responded well to dropping the second set, immediately breaking serve in the third.  She never relinquished the lead and went on to win the final set 6-3.

For the Hornets (4-5, 2-1 SWAC) it was the first time they had lost the doubles point since February 14, when they overcame the deficit to defeat Jacksonville State.  ASU lost the point when Jarred Thompson and Patrik Cvik fell at number one, 6-3, after splitting doubles two and three.

Despite victories from Cvik, a comprehensive 6-0, 6-0 effort at number six, Karlo Skvorc at three, and Takura Mlambo at one, the Hornets were not able to replicate the heroics of the Jacksonville State game, as West Alabama fought back to level the match at 3-3 before Ronald Mataba was defeated at two to finalise the result.

The two teams will rest up and continue to work hard in training in preparation for their next match, a day trip to face the University of Alabama at Birmingham on March 11.  The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, with the men hoping to bounce back to winning ways while the women will be searching to extend their win streak to seven, in what has been a stellar season so far.
Alabama State University 5-2 University of West Alabama
Women's Doubles
1. Mukhametshina/Morral (UWA) def. Wijngaarde/Orlovic (ASU) 6-4
2. Lackova/Tekelova (ASU) def. Araucz/Tomassone (UWA) 6-2
3. Moreno/Florez (UWA) def. Cartier/Regel (ASU) 6-4

Women's Singles
1. A. Mukhametshina (UWA) def. A. Wijngaarde (ASU) 6-1 6-0
2. M. Cartier (ASU) def. E. Moreno (UWA) 6-0 6-2
3. G. Lackova (ASU) def. G. Morral (UWA) 6-4 2-6 6-3
4. P. Regel (ASU) def. L. Araucz (UWA) 6-3 6-3
5. I. Cvijovic (ASU) def. S. Florez (UWA) 6-4 6-2
6. N. Tekelova (ASU) def. A. Tomassone (UWA) 6-1 7-5
 
Alabama State University 3-4 University of West Alabama
Men's Doubles
1. Wood/Kaverinen (UWA) def. Thompson/Cvik (ASU) 6-3
2. Jochamowitz/Stratiienko (UWA) def. Mataba/Coyne (ASU) 6-1
3. Mlambo/Skvorc (ASU) def. Schuetze/Bal (UWA) 6-1

Men's Singles
1. T. Mlambo (ASU) def. C. Schuetze (UWA) 6-4 6-1
2. J. Kaverinen (UWA) def. R. Mataba (ASU) 6-4 7-5
3. K. Skvorc (ASU) def. N. Jochamowitz (UWA) 6-1 6-2
4. C. Wood (UWA) def. J. Thompson (ASU) 6-3 6-2
5. A. Stratiienko (UWA) def. S. Pusztay (ASU) 6-3 6-3
6. P. Cvik (ASU) def. P. Bal (UWA) 6-0 6-0