PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - The East second-seeded Georgia Southern women's tennis team advanced to the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals with a 4-0 win over West third-seeded ULM on Friday afternoon at the Peachtree Tennis Center.
The Eagles (17-8) advance to face a West top-seeded UT Arlington squad that moved into the semifinals with a 4-0 win over Texas State. The semifinal match will be at 2 p.m. It is the second trip to the semifinals for Georgia Southern women's tennis, and the second time the Eagles' opponent in the semis will be UTA.
Georgia Southern ties the school record for most wins in a single season with the victory, tying the 1980 and 1982 teams that also won 17 matches. The win also stretches the Eagles' current win streak to nine matches.
The Eagles took the doubles point by getting a win at No. 3 doubles from Sonja Keranen and Elizabeth Goines, then surviving a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles by Charlotte van Diemen and Sophie Wagemaker.
Georgia Southern won four of six first sets as singles play began. Goines notched a quick 6-2, 6-2 win over Daniela Hernandez at No. 6 singles, then Nadja Meier claimed a 6-2, 6-4 win over Drousile Dzebou at No. 1 singles. Mila Hartig the clinched the Eagles' berth into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Madalina Grigoriu at No. 4 singles.
"I think we battled both a good ULM team, and our nerves a bit today," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Being able to take such an important match against ULM while perhaps not playing at our absolute best just shows how much fight and determination our squad has. They still try to stay relentless and find a way to win points, even when we may not necessarily feel the ball perfectly. I'm very proud of the ladies for taking the doubles point. That proved to be huge, as it gave us some breathing room in singles.
"It's going to be another tough match tomorrow against UTA in the semis," Coach McCaffrey said. "They have an extremely solid team, and I'm expecting a battle. Right now, we will enjoy our win today, grab some dinner, recover and keep our momentum going forward."
RESULTS
Singles
Nadja Meier (GS) def. Drousile Dzebou (ULM) 6-2, 6-4
Paula Boixader (GS) led Hala Badwy (ULM) 7-6 (4), 1-5, unfinished
Oleksandra Balaba (ULM) led Charlotte van Diemen (GS) 6-1, 3-4, unfinished
Mila Hartig (GS) def. Madalina Grigoriu (ULM) 6-4, 6-1
Jimena P. Garbino (ULM) led Paula Hijos (GS) 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
Elizabeth Goines (GS) def. Daniela Hernandez (ULM) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
Charlotte van Diemen/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Hala Badwy/Oleksandra Balaba (ULM) 7-6 (4)
Drousile Dzebou/Madalina Grigoriu (ULM) def. Paula Boixader/Nadja Meier (GS) 6-1
Elizabeth Goines/Sonja Keranen (GS) def. Jimena P. Garbino/Daniela Hernandez (ULM) 6-4
