NEW ORLEANS – The seasons came to a close for the Alcorn State University tennis programs as the men dropped a heartbreaker 4-3 to Jackson State, while the women fell 4-0 to Alabama State on Saturday in the semifinals of the SWAC Championships at the Pepsi Tennis Center.
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The overall score was tied 3-3 for the third-seeded Braves when sophomore
Nuno Rocha was down a set at No. 5 singles. He came back to win the second 6-4. In the third frame, Rocha fell behind 5-2 when he saved a pair of match points and won the next two games to make it 5-4. However, Stylianos Gkontsaris was able to close it out for the second-seeded Tigers 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
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For the second straight day, Alcorn's upperclassmen went unbeaten. Junior
Kert Kilumets, the SWAC Player of the Year, won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Senior
Nikita Kostikov followed suit with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles, and senior
Nischay Rawal finished on top 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.
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Kilumets and Kostikov also teamed up for a convincing 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles. After JSU won at No. 3 doubles 6-0, it was able to clinch the doubles point at No. 2 after the team of Andrey Alawi and Federico Mendieta edged out Rawal and Rocha 6-4.
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Despite losing 4-0, the fourth-seeded Lady Braves were ahead in a few unfinished matches against the top-seeded Hornets. Alcorn dropped the doubles point, but freshman
Daria Chemodanova and junior
Natalia Parchowska were in the lead 5-3 at the No. 1 position.
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Sophomore
Bianca Birkenstock nearly put the Lady Braves on the scoreboard after she was leading 6-4, 5-2 at No. 3 singles. Freshman of the Year
Anastasia Vaganova was in a tight match at No. 5 singles with a 3-6, 6-2, 1-1 score when play was halted.
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Men's Tennis
Jackson State 4, Alcorn 3
Singles Competition
1.
Kert Kilumets (ALCN_M) def. Joan Bastian Sanson (JSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Andrey Alawi (JSU) def.
Suyash Gupta (ALCN_M) 6-3, 6-0
3.
Nikita Kostikov (ALCN_M) def. Fritz Jacobs (JSU) 6-0, 6-2
4.
Nischay Rawal (ALCN_M) def. Federico Mendieta (JSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Stylianos Gkontsaris (JSU) def.
Nuno Rocha (ALCN_M) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. Vishu Prasad (JSU) def.
Ivan Matas (ALCN_M) 6-2, 6-2
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Doubles Competition
1.
Kert Kilumets/
Nikita Kostikov (ALCN_M) def. Ryan Swanier/Fritz Jacobs (JSU) 6-1
2. Andrey Alawi/Federico Mendieta (JSU) def.
Nischay Rawal/
Nuno Rocha (ALCN_M) 6-4
3. Vishu Prasad/Stylianos Gkontsaris (JSU) def.
Suyash Gupta/
Ivan Matas (ALCN_M) 6-0
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Women's Tennis
Alabama State 4, Alcorn 0
Singles Competition
1. Reka Szentes (ASU-W) def.
Daria Chemodanova (ALCN_W) 6-0, 6-4
2. Marine Cartier (ASU-W) def.
Klavdija Bukovec (ALCN_W) 6-0, 6-0
3. Brankica Orlovic (ASU-W) vs.
Bianca Birkenstock (ALCN_W) 4-6, 2-5, unfinished
4. Gabriela Lackova (ASU-W) vs.
Natalia Parchowska (ALCN_W) 6-1, 5-3, unfinished
5. Mirna Curcic (ASU-W) vs.
Anastasia Vaganova (ALCN_W) 3-6, 6-2, 1-1, unfinished
6. Marija Blazevic (ASU-W) def.
Marlene Maier (ALCN_W) 6-2, 6-4
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Doubles Competition
1. Brankica Orlovic/Marija Blazevic (ASU-W) vs.
Daria Chemodanova/
Natalia Parchowska (ALCN_W) 3-5, unfinished
2. Marine Cartier/Reka Szentes (ASU-W) def.
Bianca Birkenstock/
Anastasia Vaganova (ALCN_W) 6-2
3. Mirna Curcic/Gabriela Lackova (ASU-W) def.
Marlene Maier/
Veronika Pytlikova (ALCN_W) 6-2
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#FearTheBrave
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