STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's tennis closed out the 2023 regular season by picking up a 6-1 victory over Georgia State on Senior Day Saturday at the Wallis Tennis Center.
The Eagles (17-5, 8-3 SBC) set a new program record for the most Sun Belt wins in a season with the victory, eclipsing last year's seven wins. Georgia State falls to 2-17 overall and 2-8 in the Sun Belt. The Eagles will learn their first-round opponent in next week's Sun Belt Championships on Sunday when the official bracket is release by the league.
Due to injuries, Georgia State only fielded four players in the match. That meant the Eagles were able to clinch the doubles point by virtue of a 6-0 win by Sonja Keranen an Ana Tsitavets at No. 2 doubles.
The Eagles needed just one of the four competed singles matches to clinch the match, but Georgia State took a win at No. 4 singles, then all three other remaining matches went to three sets. Lindsay Tulenko clinched the victory with her 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Michelle Ncube at No. 2 singles, then Ana Tsitavets followed a minute later with her 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Maria Paredes at No. 1 singles. Nanaka Kijima closed out the scoring with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win over Alexia Alvarez at No. 3 singles.
"I'm very happy we closed out a great regular season with today's result," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Georgia State came today and fought as hard as they could with only four players. It definitely made us do a lot of thinking. I feel like we did a good job in the end, being able to battle through for the most part. Our doubles today was really crisp. And we did really well in singles by coming back after dropping some first sets. We're in a good place going into next week's conference tournament and we're excited to compete in Peachtree City."
Prior to the match, the Eagles held Senior Day festivities for their lone senior - graduate transfer Liv Ryan.
Results
Singles
Ana Tsitavets (GS) def. Maria Paredes (GSU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-3
Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Michelle Ncube (GSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Nanaka Kijima (GS) def. Alexia Alvarez (GSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Pragnya Kumar (GSU) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 7-5, 6-3
Sophie Wagemaker (GS) won by walkover
Sonja Keranen (GS) won by walkover
Doubles
Silvia Martinez/Liv Ryan (GS) led Pragnya Kumar/Michelle Ncube (GSU) 3-2, unfinished
Sonja Keranen/Ana Tsitavets (GS) def. Alexia Alvarez/Maria Paredes (GSU) 6-0
Lindsay Tulenko/Ninon Martinache (GS) won by walkover
