TROY, Ala. - Troy rallied from an early doubles deficit to pick up a 4-2 Sun Belt Conference women's tennis victory over visiting Georgia Southern on Sunday at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.
The Trojans moved to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in the Sun Belt with the win, while Georgia Southern fell to 6-7 overall and 0-3 in the league. The Eagles return home to Wallis on Saturday and Sunday, hosting ULM and Louisiana in Sun Belt action.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead thanks to a dominating 6-0 win by Elizabeth Goines and Sonja Keranen at No. 1 doubles over Anastasiia Khokhlova and Andrea Widing, as well as a 7-6 (7-4) win by Silvia Martinez Jimenez and Paula Hijos over Michelle Ncube and Kristina Kukaras at No. 2 doubles.
Martinez Jimenez collected a 7-6, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles for the Eagles, but Troy picked up straight-set singles wins at No. 2 through No. 5 singles to clinch the victory.
"This team continues to fight, even in some of the more difficult challenges," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Another tough match today, but we can take a lot of positives away from the fight. Our doubles continues to improve, and some of the ladies are really stepping up. Liz and Sonja were on fire today, and Pauli and Silvy did a great job of working back into a tiebreaker and ultimately securing the doubles point.
"Silvy continues to shine for the team in singles as well," Coach McCaffrey said. "She had another strong performance today at No. 1 singles. I'm particularly proud of Pauli, Liz and Hannah all fighting hard to find a way to keep the match going, even when we were down big in some areas. This team will continue to work and I'm so impressed with how united and dedicated they are to the process of improving and remaining positive. This is a special group of women and their best tennis is till ahead of them.:
RESULTS
Singles
Silvia Martinez Jimenez (GS) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) 7-6, 6-0
Kristina Kukaras (TROY) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 6-1, 6-4
Michelle Ncube (TROY) def. Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 6-2, 6-3
Hagar Amin (TROY) def. Sonja Keranen (GS) 6-0, 6-4
Olivia Elliott (TROY) def. Elizabeth Goines (GS) 7-5, 6-3
Franziska Ahrend (TROY) and Hannah Daniel (GS) 6-1, 4-6, 2-1, unfinished
Singles finish: 3, 2, 4, 1, 5
Doubles
Elizabeth Goines/Sonja Keranen (GS) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova/Andrea Widing (TROY) 6-0
Silvia Martinez Jimenez/Paula Hijos (GS) def. Michelle Ncube/Kristina Kukaras (TROY) 7-6 (4)
Olivia Elliott/Franziska Ahrend (TROY) def. Hannah Daniel/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 7-5
Doubles finish: 1, 3, 2
