Southern University Tops Alcorn at SWAC Pod

MILLBROOK, Ala. – Three different singles matches went to a third set Saturday afternoon as Alcorn dropped a tough 4-2 decision to Southern University in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's tennis match housed at The Fields ay 17 Springs in Millbrook, Alabama. The match was part of the SWAC Pod #2 event hosted by Alabama State.
 
Southern (4-7, 4-2 SWAC) took an early advantage in doubles competition, winning two of three matches to grab the early team point.
 
The Jaguars tandem of Kai Wince and LaTesha Grant dispatched the Braves team of Katherine Grados and Natalija Nikolic 6-2 at the second position, while Decora Antoine and Shahd Habib edged Alcorn's freshmen duo of Amelia Tatafu and Hana Bajramovic 7-6 at the top spot.
 
Alcorn's Oihane Villanueva Lopez and Zoe Crimmel provided the lone bright spot in doubles, defeating Tshegofatso Tsiang and Samara Onwuteaka 6-4 on court three.
 
In singles play, Southern (La.) won three of the four completed matches to secure the victory.
 
Tsiang dominated at the top of the lineup, dismissing Tatafu 6-3, 6-1, while Habib was equally efficient at No. 3, defeating Crimmel 6-2, 6-3. Grant rallied on court five, dropping the first set before recovering to beat Lopez 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 in three sets.
 
Meanwhile, Alcorn (5-15, 2-3 SWAC) received positive play in a number of positions, including No. 2 singles, 4- and 5, respectively.
 
Nikolic battled back from a dropped first set to defeat Antoine 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, and Grados was dominant at the sixth position, rolling past Ratidzo Mabukwa 6-2, 6-1, respectfully.
 
The match at the second position between Wince and Bajramovic was left unfinished at 1-6, 6-4, 3-3 after the team result had already been decided.
 
Alcorn concludes the second SWAC pod event of the spring Sunday against Alabama A&M at 1 p.m., back in Montgomery, Alabama, on the campus of Alabama State.
 
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COMPLETE RESULTS
Singles Competition
1. Tshegofatso Tsiang (SUBR) def. Amelia Tatafu (ALC) 6-3, 6-1
2. Kai Wince (SUBR) vs. Hana Bajramovic (ALC) 1-6, 6-4, 3-3, unfinished
3. Shahd Habib (SUBR) def. Zoe Crimmel (ALC) 6-2, 6-3
4. Natalija Nikolic (ALC) def. Decora Antoine (SUBR) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
5. LaTesha Grant (SUBR) def. Oihane Villanueva Lopez (ALC) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
6. Katherine Grados (ALC) def. Ratidzo Mabukwa (SUBR) 6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles Competition
1. Decora Antoine/Shahd Habib (SUBR) def. Amelia Tatafu/Hana Bajramovic (ALC) 7-6
2. Kai Wince/LaTesha Grant (SUBR) def. Katherine Grados/Natalija Nikolic (ALC) 6-2
3. Oihane Villanueva Lopez/Zoe Crimmel (ALC) def. Tshegofatso Tsiang/Samara Onwuteaka (SUBR) 6-4