West Alabama Sweeps Shorter in GSC Tennis

Men's Tennis | 3/29/2016 9:15:00 PM

ROME, Ga. – The West Alabama women's team won its seventh straight match with a 5-4 victory over 26^th-ranked Shorter University, while the Tiger men improved their winning streak to three matches with a 5-4 victory over the Hawks Tuesday at the Walt Attaway Tennis Complex.

West Alabama's women are now 11-2, 7-1 in GSC play and 5-1 in road matches. Shorter, ranked seventh in the NCAA South Region, dropped to 8-8 and 5-4. The Tiger men are 9-5 overall, 4-3 in league play and 5-1 on the road. Shorter is 5-11 and 3-5.

After falling behind 2-1 in doubles play, the West Alabama women stormed back to win four of six singles matches to earn the win. Liliana Araucz and Andrea Tomassone posted UWA's lone doubles victory, defeating Cassandra Wennestrom and Julie Rinderknech 8-2.

Amina Mukhametshina defeated Ornella Frere 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (3) at No. 1 singles, while Araucz defeated Monika Gredzinski 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-0 at No. 4 and Tomassone beat Daniela Chipe 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. Rounding out UWA women's winners was Sandra Florez at No. 6, defeating Rinderknech 6-3, 6-2.

"This was a great match win for the women over a nationally and regionally ranked opponent that came down to the wire," UWA coach Jeff Beaman said. "After slow start in doubles we played great in singles."

The Tiger men began the same way the women did, losing two of three doubles matches before coming back to take four singles victories. Caspar Schuetze and Julius Kaverinen notched an 8-6 victory over Louis Tourtois and Jimmy Kerjouan.

Schuetze then defeated Tourtois 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in No. 1 singles and Kaverinen beat Talha Zubair 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2. Christopher Wood defeated Arthur Amat 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4 singles and Andrii Stratiienko beat Patrick Sanders 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 at No. 5.

"It was another battle for the men," Beaman said. "It takes a team effort in this game and the men won as a team. This was a good win that we can hopefully learn from."

The Tigers remain on the road for tough matches Wednesday at NAIA national power Georgia Gwinnet. The Georgia Gwinnett men are 13-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation in NAIA. The women are 9-1 and ranked second in the nation in NAIA.

A live video feed for the matches at Georgia Gwinnett can be accessed HERE.

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Players Mentioned

Caspar Schuetze: 6' 2"; Junior

Andrii Stratiienko: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Christopher Wood: 6' 4"; Junior

Sandra Florez: 5' 3"; Senior

Amina Mukhametshina: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Andrea Tomassone: 5' 5"; Freshman

Liliana Araucz: 5' 9"; Freshman

Julius Kaverinen: 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Caspar Schuetze
: 6' 2"; Junior

Andrii Stratiienko
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Christopher Wood
: 6' 4"; Junior

Sandra Florez
: 5' 3"; Senior

Amina Mukhametshina
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Andrea Tomassone
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Liliana Araucz
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Julius Kaverinen
: 5' 9"; Freshman