STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's tennis collected a 4-1 win over visiting Southern Miss in Sun Belt Conference action on Friday morning at the Wallis Tennis Center.
The Eagles improved to 14-2 overall and 3-1 in the Sun Belt with the victory, while Southern Miss is now 4-9 overall and 0-5 in the league. Georgia Southern continues its homestand on Sunday with a 10 a.m. Sun Belt match against South Alabama at Wallis.
Georgia Southern swept all three doubles matches from the Golden Eagles to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Silvia Martinez and Lindsay Tulenko claimed a 6-2 win over Hannah Chambers and Zenn Lim at No. 2 doubles, then Ninon Martinache and Sonja Keranen earned a 6-4 win over Suhana Das and Alyssa Richter at No. 1 doubles. At the same time, Mackenzie Leopold and Sophie Wagemaker finished off their own 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles over Angelina Blinova and Malannia Vashkevish.
The Eagles then picked up the victory with three straight set wins. Paula Hijos blanked Vashkevish, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 6 singles, then Martinache earned a 7-5, 6-1 win over Richter at No. 1 singles. Southern Miss picked up a point at No. 5 singles, but then Martinez clinched the victory for Georgia Southern with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Chambers at No. 2 singles.
"The Golden Eagles bring a heavy, heavy ball, and I think they definitely made us switch our plan a little bit," Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "They force people to play a little undisciplined by how heavy they hit the ball. I feel like in doubles, we finally got that rhythm after the third or fourth game, and we stuck with it the rest of the way to be able to pick up all three doubles matches. In singles, Silvia, Ninon and Paula have been lights out, and it's been great watching them play. We were able to absorb some of their power, try to force them to play a little ugly so they didn't get into a rhythm. So we'll clean up a couple of things tomorrow in practice and get ready for South Alabama on Sunday."
RESULTS
Singles
1. Ninon Martinache (GS) def. Alyssa Richter (USM) 7-5, 6-1
2. Silvia Martinez (GS) def. Hannah Chambers (USM) 6-4, 6-4
3. Suhana Das (USM) led Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 7-6 (2), 2-1, unfinished
4. Mackenzie Leopold (GS) led Zenn Lim (USM) 6-2, 2-3, unfinished
5. Angelina Blinova (USM) def. Nanaka Kijima (GS) 6-1, 7-5
6. Paula Hijos (GS) def. Malannia Vashkevish (USM) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Ninon Martinache/Sonja Keranen (GS) def. Suhana Das/Alyssa Richter (USM) 6-4
2. Silvia Martinez/Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Hannah Chambers/Zenn Lim (USM) 6-2
3. Mackenzie Leopold/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Angelina Blinova/Malannia Vashkevish (USM) 6-4
