Tigers down Jaguars

Saturday, March 30

Memphis, Tenn.

2 p.m.

University of Memphis

South Alabama

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Mar 30, 2019 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Turning in its second win of the weekend, Memphis women's tennis claimed a 4-2 decision against South Alabama Saturday afternoon at the Racquet Club of Memphis.

For the third-consecutive contest, Memphis jumped out to a 1-0 match advantage with a doubles point victory. The Tigers then leaned on the bottom of its lineup in singles play to help secure the match win.

"I'm proud of the efforts today. We found ourselves in some close battles. Every match was tough," Head Coach Hayden Perez said. "We were able to run through the bottom of the ladder, and that's the result of a good week of practice. Our results are reflective of how we do during the week. It's a reflection of how we practice."

Junior duo Josephine Cao and Claire Sullivan were first off in doubles behind a 6-1 effort on court 2. At the top spot, sophomores Alisha Reayer and Laura Bente clinched the opening point with a 6-4 win.

In singles play, Memphis scored a pair of wins at the bottom of the lineup to build a 3-0 lead. Katherine Cao was first off the court with a 6-1, 6-0 decision, while Lina Hohnhold followed with a straight-set victory.

South Alabama (15-3) responded with wins on courts 1 and 3 to close the gap.

Bente then sealed the contest for the Tigers after taking a pair of tiebreak wins on court 2. The sophomore outlasted her opponent 8-6 in the first-set tiebreak. Trailing 4-2 in the second set tiebreak, Bente claimed five consecutive points to clinch the 4-2 match victory.

"We've talked about two words, 'commitment' and 'composure.' They mean different things at different times and to different people while they are competing," Perez added. "Today, Laura showed composure in the tiebreak when she was down, and she battled to win the next five points. It was good to see her follow through with that."

Memphis will cap the weekend against Marshall on Sunday. First serve from the Racquet Club of Memphis is set for 10 a.m.

RESULTS
Singles
1. Alexandria Stiteler (USA) def. Alisha Reayer (MEM), 7-5, 6-4
2. Laura Bente (MEM) def. Yu Fujioka (USA), 7-6(6), 7-6(4)
3. Nikola Kohoutova (USA) def. Aleks Topalovic (MEM), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
4. Hannah Davies (MEM) vs. Milka Pasanen (USA), 6-7(5), 6-4, unfinished
5. Katherine Cao (MEM) def. Diana Monsalve (USA), 6-1, 6-0
6. Lina Hohnhold (MEM) def. Patricia Martins (USA), 6-1, 6-4
(Order of finish: 5, 6, 1, 3, 2)

Doubles
1. Reayer/Bente (MEM) def. Martins/Pasanen (USA), 6-4
2. J. Cao/Sullivan (MEM) def. Fujioka/Stiteler (USA), 6-1
3. K. Cao/Davies (MEM) vs. Takanishi/Kohoutova (USA), 4-5, unfinished
(Order of finish: 1, 2)