MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University women's tennis team used a pair of singles victories at the top two slots in the order to win a hard-fought 4-3 match over Jacksonville State University at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center Sunday afternoon in the ASU Invitational.
Alabama State (3-3) jumped on top of the match early winning the doubles point, needing only one after Jacksonville State had to default at number three due to only fielding five players. The Lady Hornets got the much needed point by winning at number one doubles when the team of
Marine Cartier and
Reka Szentes claimed a 6-3 victory over Jacksonville State's team of Genevie Ulanday and Alba Conejero.
In singles play, Alabama State led 2-0 before Jacksonville State stormed back to take three matches and take a 3-2 lead, putting all the attention on number one and two singles. The Gamecocks looked in control with the lead and Ulanday leading Alabama State's Szentes 5-2 in the first set; however, the Lady Hornets sophomore stormed back to force a tiebreaker in the first set – winning that tiebreaker 7-6 – and went on to roll in the second set 6-0 to tie the match at 3-all.
While all that was going on at number one singles, the Lady Hornets' Cartier was in a battle with Claudia Marsala. The two split the first two sets by identical 6-4 scores, forcing a third set. After a taxing day - both mentally and physically - in singles and doubles, Cartier battled back to win the third set 6-2 and clinch the match for the Lady Hornets over their in-state competition.
Alabama State 4, Jacksonville State 3
Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center
Singles
Reka Szentes (Alabama State) def. Genevie Ulanday (Jacksonville State) 7-6, 6-0
Marine Cartier (Alabama State) def. Claudia Marsala (Jacksonville State) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Diana Monsalve (Jacksonville State) def.
Gabriela Lackova (Alabama State) 7-6, 6-3
Alba Conejero (Jacksonville State) def.
Mirna Curcic (Alabama State) 6-2, 7-5
Malin Buechner (Jacksonville State) def.
Brankica Orlovic (Alabama State) 6-1, 7-6
Jovana Parlic (Alabama State) won by default
Doubles
Cartier/Szentes (Alabama State) def. Ulanday/Conejero (Jacksonville State), 6-3
Curcic/Lackova (Alabama State) led Marsala/Monslave (Jacksonville State), 5-4 (dnf)
Orlovic/Parlic (Alabama State) won by default
Alabama State returns to action next Saturday on the road against Kennesaw State at 2 pm.
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