MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Since rain cut the first SWAC Round-Up short, the Alcorn State University men's and women's tennis programs will be making up matches, in addition to playing the rest of its conference schedule this weekend at the second SWAC Round-Up, hosted by Alabama State University.
The action begins Friday at 9 a.m. when Alcorn takes on Alabama State on its home courts at ASU. Both the Braves and Lady Braves will then head to Lagoon Park Tennis Center for a 2 p.m. showdown against Jackson State.
Saturday begins at 9 a.m. with both Alcorn teams taking on Alabama A&M at the O'Connor Tennis Center. The Lady Braves will close out the day at 2 p.m. back at ASU's courts to face Southern.
The Braves and Lady Braves will rematch Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 9 a.m. Sunday at Lagoon Park Tennis Center. The weekend concludes with Alcorn squaring off with Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. Sunday at the O'Conner Tennis Center.
The women enter the weekend with a 2-1 conference record, while the men are 1-1. Both teams defeated UAPB but fell to Prairie View A&M. The Lady Braves also have a 4-1 victory over Grambling State on the docket.
The Lady Braves have been paced this year by juniors
Bianca Birkenstock and
Marlene Maier. Both are a perfect 3-0 in conference in singles. Birkenstock is 4-3 overall at No. 1 singles, while Maier is 4-1 overall at No. 5.
The women are coming off back-to-back lopsided wins. It started with a flawless 7-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and continued yesterday with an 8-1 win over Delta State. The Lady Braves have also won three of their last four matches overall.
On the men's side, senior
Kert Kilumets has never lost a SWAC singles match in his two years at Alcorn, all at the No. 1 position. The 2017 SWAC Player of the Year winner will put his undefeated streak on the line and is also 2-0 this year at No. 1 doubles with freshman
Stojan Stojanovski.
At No. 3 singles, freshman
Johnatan Parat is 2-0 in conference. He's coming off a convincing 6-4, 6-0 victory over Delta State's Mason Vice yesterday.
Schedule
Friday, March 16
Alcorn at Alabama State, 9 a.m. (ASU Courts)
Alcorn vs. Jackson State, 2 p.m. (Lagoon Park Tennis Center)
Saturday, March 17
Alcorn vs. Alabama A&M, 9 a.m. (O'Connor Tennis Center)
Alcorn vs. Southern, 2 p.m. (ASU Courts) - women only
Sunday, March 18
Alcorn vs. UAPB, 9 a.m. (Lagoon Park Tennis Center)
Alcorn vs. Mississippi Valley State, 2 p.m. (O'Connor Tennis Center)
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