STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's tennis dropped a tight 4-3 Sun Belt Conference decision to visiting South Alabama on Sunday morning at the Wallis Tennis Center.
The Eagles fell to 14-3 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt, while South Alabama improved 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern continues its homestand by hosting Arkansas State on Friday, April 5, at 1 p.m.
South Alabama captured the doubles point from the Eagles with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 dobules.
The two teams then split first sets in singles play. Ninon Martinache evened the match at 1-1 with a dominating 6-4, 6-1 win over Tereza Dejnozkova at No. 1 singles, but South Alabama picked up straight set wins at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 singles to clinch the victory.
The Eagles made it a 4-3 final margin thanks to three-set wins by Mackenzie Leopold at No. 4 singles and Paula Hijos at No. 6 singles.
"I feel like we played a really good match today," Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "The score may not reflect how we fought and competed, but I truly feel good about it.
"I think where we are best as a team is how we bounce back after a tight and challenging match or a loss," McCaffrey said. "Our ladies are extremely resilient and have a really good memory of how to fight back and make adjustments if we were fortunate enough to play South Alabama again. And I'm certain each of our women are eager to see them in the conference tournament."
RESULTS
Singles
1. Ninon Martinache (GS) def. Tereza Dejnozkova (USA) 6-4, 6-1
2. Elysia Pool (USA) def. Silvia Martinez (GS) 6-2, 6-2
3. Nikola Novotna (USA) def. Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 6-3, 6-2
4. Mackenzie Leopold (GS) def. Manai Ennaciri (USA) 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
5. Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) def. Nanaka Kijima (GS) 6-4, 6-2
6. Paula Hijos (GS) def. Delien Kleinhans (GS) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0
Doubles
1. Tereza Dejnozkova/Elysia Pool (USA) def. Ninon Martinache/Sonja Keranen (GS) 6-4
2. Manai Ennaciri/Nikola Novotna (USA) led Silvia Martinez/Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 4-3, unfinished
3. Chems Doha Zeghlouli/Lara van der Merwe (USA) def. Mackenzie Leopold/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 6-1
