FLORENCE, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama men's tennis team picked up a tight 5-4 win over North Alabama, while the Tiger women fell, 8-1, Saturday afternoon.
 
UWA faced tough competition at each court in men's action after falling behind 2-1 following doubles play. The lone Tiger triumph in doubles came at the second court where the team of Anton Ivanov and Kike Ruiz ousted their Lion counterparts, 8-3.
 
Down 2-1, West Alabama then fought from behind to claim four singles matches on the day. Nestor Vargas started singles action with 6-3, 6-3 win, before Adam Drysdale took a 6-4, 6-0 victory at the third position.
 
UWA then added a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 come-from-behind victory from Ruiz at the fifth singles spot and a 6-1, 6-1 triumph by Honorio Fernandez at the sixth court. Those two wins at the final courts sealed the match for the Tigers and gave the team a 5-4 win.
 
The lone victory on the women's side came from Dasha Popova in a 6-2, 6-3 win at the sixth position. That singles victory would be all the Tigers get on the day in the 8-1 loss.
 
Both Tiger tennis teams now travel to Itta Bena, Miss., to take on Mississippi Valley State this Tuesday afternoon.