NEW ORLEANS, La. | Alabama State University women's tennis opened postseason play in dominant fashion on Friday, blanking Alcorn State 4-0 at the City Park Pepsi Tennis Center to advance to the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Tennis Tournament.
The Hornets (9-9) secured the doubles point and carried that momentum into singles play, winning three straight matches in convincing fashion to clinch the quarterfinal victory.
Alabama State took an early 1-0 lead after winning two of the three doubles matches.
At No. 1 doubles,
Diana Craciun and
Melisa Mekic set the tone with a 6-2 victory over Katherine Grados and Natalija Nikolic.
The point was clinched at No. 3 doubles as
Kesmat El Tawil and
Jovana Petrovic earned a 6-4 win against Zoe Crimmel and Oihane Villan Lopez.
The No. 2 doubles match featuring Cleanne Pickel and
Alexia Campagna was left unfinished.
SINGLES PLAY
The Hornets wasted little time closing out the match in singles, winning in straight sets on three courts.
Melisa Mekic dominated at No. 3 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Zoe Crimmel.
Alexia Campagna followed with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles against Natalija Nikolic.
Senna Van Den Heuvel sealed the match at No. 5 singles, defeating Oihane Villan Lopez 6-2, 6-0.
Matches at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 6 singles were halted once the Hornets clinched the fourth point.
MATCH RESULTS
Alabama State 4, Alcorn State 0
Doubles Results
- Craciun/Mekic (ALST) def. Grados/Nikolic (ALC) – 6-2
- Pickel/Campagna (ALST) vs. Bajramovic/Tatafu (ALC) – unfinished
- El Tawil/Petrovic (ALST) def. Crimmel/Villan Lopez (ALC) – 6-4
Singles Results
- Craciun (ALST) vs. Tatafu (ALC) – unfinished
- El Tawil (ALST) vs. Bajramovic (ALC) – unfinished
- Mekic (ALST) def. Crimmel (ALC) – 6-1, 6-0
- Campagna (ALST) def. Nikolic (ALC) – 6-2, 6-1
- Van Den Heuvel (ALST) def. Villan Lopez (ALC) – 6-2, 6-0
- Petrovic (ALST) vs. Grados (ALC) – unfinished
With the win, Alabama State advances to the SWAC Tournament semifinals, where the Hornets will take on No. 2 seed Alabama A&M at 10 a.m.