ASU men & women netters take 1st day of SWAC round-up
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (bamastatesports.com) – Day one of the second Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) tennis round-up started Friday, as the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Complex played a role as one of the hosting venues.
Both Alabama State University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were in action, albeit after a short rain delay, against visiting rivals Prairie View A & M University, with resounding victories for both home teams.
“These Prairie View matches have always been intense and heated during my time here”, head tennis coach Anuk Christiansz said after the match. “They make a lot of noise and have a lot of energy but we just came out and started so strong today, in doubles and singles, that they never got into the match, for both the men and women” he said.
With Prairie View only having five players, ASU (5-7, 3-1 SWAC) went into the doubles only needing one of the two remaining matches to take the point. That was done in quick fashion at number two, with Takura Mlambo and Adam Coyne comfortable 6-1 winners.
“Our doubles have been a bit flat the last few weeks so I decided to change the pairings to see if that would give the men a bit of a spark. It’s always tough because some of these guys have been playing together for years” Christiansz said. One of those longstanding partnerships that were split were Coyne and Ronald Mataba, who had been playing doubles together since the age of 13.
The Lady Hornets (11-6, 5-0 SWAC), while not as quick, also won the doubles point in commanding fashion. A fast 6-2 win from Marine Cartier and Patricia Regel at three put the Lady Hornets in good stead. Gabriela Lackova and Nicole Tekelova then solidified the win when they broke serve for the second time to take the match 6-3 at number two.
“Doubles from the ladies was good today from top to bottom. Two and three got the results but even our one doubles (Wijngaarde/Orlovic) saved a match point as they were back on serve at the end” said Christiansz.
The loss of not having six players hurt Prairie View again as singles began, with Patrik Cvik having no opposition the Hornets were up 2-0 and required only two matches from the five remaining singles courts. Some exceptional play from Mlambo, at one, and Karlo Skvorc, at three, gave the Hornets the 4-0 victory with dominating 6-1, 6-1, and 6-0, 6-2 wins respectively.
For the Lady Hornets, who have shown outstanding strength in their team depth this year, it was an unsuspecting, but pleasant surprise nonetheless when it was the top of the order that sealed the team victory. Straight set wins from Lackova and Cartier meant that senior Arantxia Wijngaarde’s 6-1, 6-4 victory clinched the match and ensured both ASU teams recorded sweeps.
Hosting the round-up will mean both teams are in action Saturday, weather permitting. The women, who will be looking to continue their SWAC winning streak, are scheduled to face Southern University at 9 a.m. in what could be a battle for the top seeding at the conference championships in New Orleans later this season.
Both teams will then be in action against Alabama A & M at 1 p.m. The match will be the last home game of the season for both teams and as such, will honour those seniors who have dedicated so much time and effort to the programs. Those players are: Adam Coyne, Irina Cvijovic, Brianna Fairley, Ronald Mataba, Jarred Thompson, and Arantxia Wijngaarde.
Alabama State University 4 – 0 Prarie-View A & M University
Men’s Doubles:
1. Thompson/Cvik (ASU) vs. Waldron/Avella (PVAMU) 2-5 unfinished.
2. Mlambo/Coyne (ASU) def. Yadav/Boyogueno (PVAMU) 6-1
3. Mataba/Skvorc (ASU) def. No Player/No Player (PVAMU) by default.
Men’s Singles:
1. T. Mlambo (ASU) def. C. Waldron (PVAMU) 6-1 6-1
2. R. Mataba (ASU) vs. S. Avella (PVAMU) 6-3 3-4 unfinished.
3. K. Skvorc (ASU) def. A Yadav (PVAMU) 6-0 6-2
4. S. Pusztay (ASU) vs. F. Quintero (PVAMU) 6-0 5-4 unfinished.
5. J. Thompson (ASU) vs. U. Boyogueno (PVAMU) 7-6 unfinished.
6. P. Cvik (ASU) def. No Player (PVAMU) by default.
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,3*) *Clinched Match
Alabama State University 4 – 0 Prarie-View A & M University
Women’s Doubles:
1. Wijngaarde/Orlovic (ASU) vs. Rama/Lackey (PVAMU) 4-5 unfinished.
2. Lackova/Tekelova (ASU) def. Randolph/Maxwell (PVAMU) 6-3
3. Cartier/Regel (ASU) Ruhl/Findley (PVAMU) 6-2
Women’s Singles:
1. A. Wijngaarde (ASU) def. N. Rama (PVAMU) 6-1 6-4
2. M. Cartier (ASU) def. S. Thomas (PVAMU) 6-0 6-2
3. G. Lackova (ASU) def. S. Lackey (PVAMU) 6-2 6-0
4. P. Regel (ASU) vs. T. Randolph (PVAMU) 3-6 6-0 0-1 unfinished.
5. I. Cvijovic (ASU) vs. S. Findley (PVAMU) 6-4 4-3 unfinished.
6. N. Tekelova (ASU) vs. T. Maxwell (PVAMU) 7-6(0) 1-1 unfinished.
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,1*) *Clinched Match
