Women's Tennis | 1/27/2019 4:10:00 PM

Shorthanded Lady Braves Strengthened by Defeats to SFA, USM

LORMAN, Miss. – In spite of injuries heading into the season, the Alcorn State University women's tennis program took a step forward in defeats to Stephen F. Austin 7-0 and Southern Miss 4-0 over the weekend at the Alcorn Tennis Courts.
 
The Lady Braves (0-2) were without senior Ammaarah Tim and junior Alessandra Maganuco, who played No. 2 and 3 singles last year, respectively. Still, Alcorn put up a fight at several positions against quality opponents even with just five student-athletes available.
 
"The team showed a lot of improvement from the first match to the second. We played against high-level opponents, but we kept fighting. It was a great way for us to start the season and we're starting to find our rhythm. I believe this group has great potential and we're getting better day-by-day," said Alcorn head coach Barbara Oliveira.
 
Alcorn got better as the weekend went on. Against USM (3-0), the Lady Braves were still alive in three singles matches when the Golden Eagles clinched. Most notably, senior Bianca Birkenstock was tied 5-5 in the first set at No. 1 singles when play was halted.
 
At No. 2 singles, junior Anastasia Vaganova dropped a very tight first set 6-4. The set-point came on a no-ad deuce point that didn't go her way. Junior Veronika Pytlikova was attempting to pull-off a comeback at No. 3 singles. After dropping the first set 6-0, she was leading 4-3 in the second when the match ended.
 
Against SFA (1-0), the closest match came at No. 5 singles where senior Klavdija Bukovec battled to a 6-3, 6-3 defeat.
 
The Lady Braves will take the court again Friday when they host New Orleans at 1 p.m. at the Alcorn Tennis Courts.  The Alcorn men's team will be in action Monday on the road against Southern Miss at 2 p.m.
 
Match 1
Stephen F. Austin 7, Alcorn 0
Doubles Competition
1. Gabi Guilarte/Kaja Ljubic (SFA) def. Anastasia Vaganova/Stefany Grlj (ALCW) 6-2
2. Darinka Tiboldi/Nida Kamal (SFA) def. Bianca Birkenstock/Klavdija Bukovec (ALCW) 6-1
 
Singles Competition
1. Gabi Guilarte (SFA) def. Bianca Birkenstock (ALCW) 6-1, 6-3
2. Darinka Tiboldi (SFA) def. Anastasia Vaganova (ALCW) 6-0, 6-1
3. Kaja Ljubic (SFA) def. Stefany Grlj (ALCW) 6-3, 6-1
4. Armelle Cerdan (SFA) def. Veronika Pytlikova (ALCW) 6-1, 6-3
5. Nida Kamal (SFA) def. Klavdija Bukovec (ALCW) 6-3, 6-3
6. Kyndall Misak (SFA) def. No player (ALCW), by forfeit
 
Match 2
Southern Miss 4, Alcorn 0
Doubles Competition
1. Tjasa Jerse/Arina Amaning (USM) def. Anastasia Vaganova/Stefany Grlj (ALCW) 6-2
2. Rikeetha Pereira/Ebru Zeynep Yazgan (USM) def. Bianca Birkenstock/Klavdija Bukovec (ALCW) 6-2
 
Singles Competition
1. Bianca Birkenstock (ALCW) vs. Arina Amaning (USM) 5-5, unfinished
2. Anastasia Vaganova (ALCW) vs. Rikeetha Pereira (USM) 4-6, unfinished
3. Veronika Pytlikova (ALCW) vs. Tjasa Jerse (USM) 0-6, 4-3, unfinished
4. Katia de la Garza (USM) def. Stefany Grlj (ALCW) 6-0, 6-0
5. Ebru Zeynep Yazgan (USM) def. Klavdija Bukovec (ALCW) 6-0, 6-1
6. Monique Burton (USM) def. No player (ALCW), by forfeit
 
#FearTheBrave