JACKSON, Miss. – Squaring off against competition from the Southwestern Athletic Conference for the first time this season, the Alcorn State University men's and women's tennis program will compete in the SWAC Round-Up on Friday and Saturday.
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The Lady Braves (2-7) will kick it off Friday at 2 p.m. when they take on Southern at the Courthouse Racquet and Fitness Complex.
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All other Alcorn matches will be at the JSU Campus Courts. Both the Braves (2-10) and Lady Braves will battle Mississippi Valley State at 5 p.m. Friday, Jackson State at 9 a.m. Saturday and Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. Saturday.
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The Lady Braves are the 2016 SWAC champions. They will be honored Tuesday, Feb. 28 by the Mississippi Legislature (House and Senate) at 10 a.m. during the Alcorn Alumni Purple and Gold Day at the Mississippi State Capitol. It marked the 12th championship for Alcorn tennis and the fourth for the women's program, all under head coach
Anthony Dodgen who is in his 20th season.
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This season, the Lady Braves have been led at the top by sophomore
Bianca Birkenstock and freshman
Daria Chemodanova who have each played at least four matches at No. 1 singles. Sophomore
Marlene Maier, the 2016 SWAC Tournament MVP, has won a team-high three singles matches and has played primarily at the No. 5 spot.
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The men's team has been guided by junior
Kert Kilumets who hoists a 5-2 record at No. 2 singles. He transferred from North Carolina Central where he was a two-time MEAC Player of the Year winner.
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Senior
Nischay Rawal and sophomore
Nuno Rocha have stood their ground in doubles where they carry a 4-4 record at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Rawal is also 3-3 at No. 4 singles.
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Alcorn's women's match Saturday morning against JSU will be a rematch of last year's finals where the Lady Braves won 4-2. The men will look to avenge a 4-0 defeat to the Tigers at last year's semifinals.
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#FearTheBrave
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