STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's tennis collected a crucial doubles point, then won a pair of three-set singles matches to defeat the College of Charleston, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon for the Eagles' first win of 2022.

In the first of a three-match homestand at the Wallis Tennis Center, the Eagles (1-2) have now won two straight against the Cougars (1-1) for the first time in program history. Georgia Southern continues its homestand on Saturday, facing Charleston Southern in a Noon matchup from Wallis.

The doubles competition saw both the Eagles' No. 3 pair of Paula Hijos and Silvia Martinez Jimenez shake off an early break to defeat the Cougars' Kate Earnhardt and Elizabeth Nowak, 6-4. The No. 2 duo of Hannah Daniel and Sophie Wagemaker trailed, 5-4, then broke serve twice in winning three straight games to clinch the doubles point with a 7-5 win.

"The pivotal part of today was capturing that doubles point, especially after losing at number one doubles," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Being able to come back at number two and number three doubles with them being down breaks of serve. It certainly didn't look good, and at times we were our worst enemies, but I give a lot of credit to those two doubles teams, with Pauli stepping up and just being really steady at number three doubles, then Hannah just putting balls in play to allow Sophie a chance to put some balls away at number two."

In singles, the Eagles dropped five of six first sets against the Cougars. But Elizabeth Goines notched a straight-set win at No. 5 singles over Peyton Brotzman, 6-4, 6-4, then Martinez Jimenez rallied from a 6-0 loss in the first set to storm back at No. 2 singles and down Halli Trinkle, 0-6, 7-5, 6-3, to put the Eagles one match away from clinching.

At No. 4 singles, Paula Hijos dropped the first set, 6-3, then forced a second-set tiebreak to stay in the match. She won the tiebreak, 7-1, then after a break of serve in the first game of the third set, she reeled off five straight games, eventually finishing off the 6-2 set to clinch the match.

"Going into singles, we lost five of those first six sets," Coach McCaffrey said. "But the biggest thing is, I know we are never done. I think that has been one of the cornerstones of this program. We always bring it, and it doesn't matter who we play against. We find ways to bounce back. Sophie was able to push her match to three sets, Liz winning in straight sets. And then Pauli and Silvie of course, doing a phenomenal job of dropping a first set but coming back convincingly." 

RESULTS
Singles
Slade Coetzee (COFC) def. Nadja Meier (GS) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Silvia Martinez Jimenez (GS) def. Halli Trinkle (COFC) 0-6, 7-5, 6-3
Maja Jekauc (COFC) def. Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
Paula Hijos (GS) def. Kate Earnhardt (COFC) 3-6, 7-6, 6-2
Elizabeth Goines (GS) def. Peyton Brotzman (COFC) 6-4, 6-4
Victoria Walter (COFC) def. Sonja Keranen (GS) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles
Slade Coetzee/Halli Trinkle (COFC) def. Elizabeth Goines/Sonja Keranen (GS) 6-1
Hannah Daniel/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Peyton Brotzman/Maja Jekauc (COFC) 7-5
Paula Hijos/Silvia Martinez Jimenez (GS) def. Kate Earnhardt/Elizabeth Nowak (COFC) 6-4