Women's Tennis | 3/1/2016 10:25:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga.- On Tuesday, it all came down to the last singles match in the third set, but the Georgia Southern women's tennis team was able to slide to a 4-3 victory at home over Stetson thanks to solid doubles play and Giulia Riepe's sound performance at line one.

"We had some very tough competition today, and I am beyond proud of the fight that our girls showed on court," head coach Michele Stanford said. "Once again, winning the doubles point was crucial in helping us get the 4-3 win."

For the sixth time in eight matches, the Eagles seized the doubles point. Tuesday marked the second consecutive time line two doubles tandem Francisca Norregaard and Giulia Riepe clinched the 1-0 advantage for the team. Before their clinch, Emilia Bujan and Mary Phillips Smith won their doubles match 6-3 at the No.3 position.

In singles, the Hatters and the Eagles traded feats, first with Stetson winning out the No.3 spot, but Norregaard countered with her line five win to hold onto the Georgia Southern lead.

"Francisca did a great job igniting the fire this afternoon. She played very aggressively, and never gave her opponent a chance to steal the momentum," Stanford said.

After Norregaard's victory, the rest of the four matches went into the third sets to stall the score at 2-1. Stetson captured the point at the No.2 position to tie it up at 2-2. Once again the two teams traded matches to bring the deciding point to the No.1 singles match, where Riepe squared it away in the final two sets.

"Giulia also did a wonderful job remaining calm and focused on her game plan which resulted in a clinch for the Eagles," Stanford said. "Overall, I am very proud of every individual on our team for all that they have accomplished so far. This match was definitely a step in the right direction, and we are counting down the days for conference play to begin!"

The Eagles now have a 7-3 record and head into conference play on March 24, playing against Georgia State. 

RESULTS
Georgia Southern 4, Stetson 3
 
Singles competition
1. Giulia Riepe (GS) def. Maja Salibasic (STET) 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
2. Arijana Korac (STET) def. Mariana Ranzahuer (GS) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
3. Isabella Fernandez (STET) def. Lindsay Truscott (GS) 6-1, 6-1
4. Carolina Meregalli (STET) def. Emilia Bujan (GS) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Francisca Norregaard (GS) def. Alexe Viaud (STET) 6-1, 6-2
6. Mary Phillips Smith (GS) def. Alexandra Lyubimova (STET) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Lindsay Truscott/Mariana Ranzahuer (GS) vs. Isabella Fernandez/Arijana Korac (STET) 5-6, unfinished
2. Francisca Norregaard/Giulia Riepe (GS) def. Carolina Meregalli/Maja Salibasic (STET) 6-4
3. Emilia Bujan/Mary Phillips Smith (GS) def. Alexe Viaud/Alexandra Lyubimova (STET) 6-3
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles are back in action March 11 and March 13 with two home matches-- one against Southern Miss and another against UNCG.
 
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