NEW ORLEANS, La. | Kesmat El Tawil delivered the clinching point on court two to lift No. 2 seed Alabama State University to a 4-2 victory over top-seeded Jackson State on Sunday at the Pepsi Tennis Center, securing the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Tennis Championship.

With the win, the Hornets claim their sixth SWAC title in program history and their second in the last three seasons. Alabama State (11-9) advances to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship, with its opponent and site to be announced during the NCAA Division I Selection Show on Monday, April 27, at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.

Alabama State set the tone early by capturing the doubles point. The duo of Diana Craciun and Melisa Mekic earned a 7-5 win on court one, while Cleanne Pickel and Alexia Campagna followed with a 6-4 victory on court two to give the Hornets a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.

In singles action, Jackson State evened the match with wins on courts one and five, but Alabama State responded with strong performances across the lineup. Jovana Petrovic put the Hornets back in front with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) win on court six, and Mekic added a key three-set victory on court three, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

With the match hanging in the balance, El Tawil battled back after dropping the first set to secure a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win on court two, sealing the championship for Alabama State.

Additionally, El Tawil was named the SWAC Tournament MVP. while Jonvan Petrovic and Alexia Campagna also earned All-Touranment Honors.

ALL TOURNAMENT 
All-Tournament Team
Genesis Whitelock, Florida A&M
Isabella Benavides, Jackson State 
Helen Hernandez, Jackson State
Jovana Petrovic, Alabama State
Alexia Campagna, Alabama State 
Kesmat El Tawil, Alabama State (MVP)

Match Results
Alabama State 4, Jackson State 2
Doubles

1. Craciun/Mekic (ALST) def. Hernandez/Linkovski (JKST) – 7-5
2. Pickel/Campagna (ALST) def. Benavides/Corbalan (JKST) – 6-4
3. Alvarez/Tovar (JKST) vs. El Tawil/Van Den Heuvel (ALST) – unfinished

Singles

1. Paula Corbalan (JKST) def. Diana Craciun (ALST) – 6-4, 6-4
2. Kemet El Tawil (ALST) def. Mariia Iordanova (JKST) – 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
3. Melisa Mekic (ALST) def. Victoria Linkovski (JKST) – 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
4. Alexia Campagna (ALST) vs. Isabella Benavides (JKST) – unfinished
5. Helen Hernandez (JKST) def. Senna Van Den Heuvel (ALST) – 6-3, 6-3
6. Jovana Petrovic (ALST) def. Tiara Alvarez (JKST) – 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)