TROY, Ala. - Georgia Southern women's tennis won a pair of three-set singles matches to edge Troy, 4-3, in Sun Belt Conference action on Sunday at the Lunsford Tennis Complex in Troy, Ala.
The Eagles improved to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in Sun Belt play with the road victory, while Troy fell to 6-7 overall and 2-3 in the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern returns home to the Wallis Tennis Center for three straight home matches this week, beginning with a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup with Mercer on Wednesday, March 24.
Troy claimed the doubles point between the two teams by winning at No. 3 doubles in a tiebreaker. Georgia Southern got off to a great start in singles by winning five of the first six sets.
Nadja Meier and Sophie Wagemaker claimed straight-set singles wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles to put the Eagles up 2-1. Troy claimed a win at No. 1 singles in straight sets to tie the match at 2-all, and all three of the remaining singles matches went to third sets.
Mila Hartig won at No. 4 singles with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win for the Eagles, while Troy picked up a three-set win at No. 5 singles. Elizabeth Goines then clinched the match for Georgia Southern with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles over Anastasiia Khrustaleva.
"This was a big win for the squad today," Georgia Southern Head Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "After not being at our best yesterday, bouncing back the way in which we did - it was a big step for us. Our team has a lot of guts and plays with grit. I'm so proud of how the team fought a tough team like Troy they way they did and emerged with the win. Doing so the road, in this conference, is proving not to be easy. But I believe this team is capable of great things and I'm excited to see the ladies continue to work towards their goals."
RESULTS
Singles
Matea Mihaljevic (TROY) def. Paula Boixader (GS) 6-2, 7-6 (5)
Nadja Meier (GS) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) 7-5, 6-2
Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Shevita Aulana (TROY) 6-2, 6-1
Mila Hartig (GS) def. Michelle Ncube (TROY) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Kristina Kukaras (TROY) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Elizabeth Goines (GS) def. Anastasiia Khrustaleva (TROY) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles
Charlotte van Diemen/Nadja Meier (GS) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova/Anastasiia Khrustaleva (TROY) 6-1
Michelle Ncube/Andrea Widing (TROY) def. Elizabeth Goines/Sonja Keranen (GS) 6-2
Shevita Aulana/Matea Mihaljevic (TROY) def. Mila Hartig/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 7-6 (5)
