STATESBORO - Coastal Carolina women's tennis overcame a 3-0 deficit to collect a 4-3 Sun Belt Conference victory over host Georgia Southern in both teams' league opener on Sunday at the Wallis Tennis Center.

The day began with a pre-match ceremony as the Eagles unveiled a nameplate and signature for Court 3 at Wallis in honor of Faye Kirschner, a Georgia Southern alum and a longtime supporter of Eagle tennis.

Georgia Southern captured the doubles point from the Chanticleers as Nadja Meier and Silvia Martinez Jimenez defeated Victoire de Samucewicz and Paola Landin Lopez, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles. Hannah Daniel and Sophie Wagemaker then clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Anna Babayan and Valentina Urelli, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 3 doubles.

The Eagles won two quick singles matches in straight sets as Sonja Keranen downed Urelli, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 5 singles, then Meier downed de Samucewicz, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 1 singles. But the Chanticleers collected straight set wins at No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 singles, then clinched the match with a three-set win at No. 3.

"Today was a very good college tennis match," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Sure it's difficult to have a 3-0 lead and see another team fight back and win, but considering it's something we've done about a dozen times over the last four years, it is bound to happen. So much credit goes to Coastal and their coaching staff. At one point it looked as if the match was securely in our grasp. But we learned a huge lesson in doubles that we, collectively, did not carry over to singles. When you have a lead or a match in your grasp, or control of points you cannot ease up nor take your foot off the gas. 

"Coastal found some momentum and it carried over from court to court. They were relentless and it showed in the result. They did a phenomenal job of doing what we have done over the years.  But we will take away some valuable lessons in which it is easier to swallow today, at the beginning of the season, rather than if this happened during the conference tournament.  I know we will be stronger following this match. We are eager to train and get in some work before we play Rhode Island this upcoming week."

RESULTS
Singles
Nadja Meier (GS) def. Victoire de Samucewicz (CCU) 6-2, 7-5
Mathilde Tranberg (CCU) def. Silvia Martinez Jimenez (GS) 6-4, 6-2
Paola Landin Lopez (CCU) def. Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 6-3, 6-7, 6-0
Anna Babayan (CCU) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 6-4, 7-5
Sonja Keranen (GS) def. Valentina Urelli (CCU) 6-3, 6-2
Jesse Hollins (CCU) def. Elizabeth Goines (GS) 7-6, 6-1
Singles finish: 5, 1, 4, 6, 2, 3

Doubles
Silvia Martinez Jimenez/Nadja Meier (GS) def. Paola Landin Lopez/Mathilde Tranberg (CCU) 6-1
Victoire de Samucewicz/Jesse Hollins (CCU) def. Sonja Keranen/Elizabeth Goines (GS) 6-4
Hannah Daniel/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) Anna Babayan/Valentina Urelli (CCU) 6-4
Doubles finish: 1, 2, 3