CLINTON, Miss. – West Alabama won its third straight match, all against Gulf South Conference competition, by defeating Mississippi College, 5-4, in men's tennis Wednesday at the MC Tennis Complex.
 
West Alabama is 6-2 overall, 3-1 in GSC play. Mississippi College dropped to 4-2 overall in its first GSC match of the season.
 
"This was a great win for our men against a very strong Mississippi College team that has had our number the past three times we have played," UWA head coach Jeff Beaman said.
 
The Tigers opened the match by taking two of three doubles points. Henrik Sinkko and Andrii Stratiienko defeated Lucio Menezes and Max Nilges, 8-6, at No. 2. Honorio Fernandez and Anton Lof won at No. 3 over Sanders Barrick and J. Rodrigo Gonzalez, 8-6.
 
Sinkko clinched the match for the Tigers at No. 6 singles with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ben Jarvis. Linus Holthey and Erick Nordblom earned UWA's other two singles victories.
 
This week's GSC player of the week, Julius Kaverinen, lost for the first time this season in singles play, falling to Joan Valy 0-6, 6-3, 7-5. Holthey improved his singles mark to 6-1 with his win.
 
Both teams return to action Saturday on the road. West Alabama travels to NCAA Division I Southern Miss, while Mississippi College plays at Alabama Huntsville Saturday. 
 
West Alabama 5, Mississippi College 4
Doubles competition
1. Joan Valy/Marcos Rocca (MC) def. Julius Kaverinen/Linus Holthey (UWA) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Henrik Sinkko/Andrii Stratiienko (UWA) def. Lucio Menezes/Max Nilges (MC) 8-6
3. Honorio Fernandez/Anton Lof (UWA) def. Sanders Barrick/J. Rodrigo Gonzalez (MC) 8-6
 
Singles competition
1. Joan Valy (MC) def. Julius Kaverinen (UWA) 0-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Lucio Menezes (MC) def. Honorio Fernandez (UWA) 7-6 (7-1), 6-4
3. Linus Holthey (UWA) def. Marcos Rocca (MC) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
4. Erick Nordblom (UWA) def. J. Rodrigo Gonzalez (MC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Max Nilges (MC) def. Andrii Stratiienko (UWA) 6-4, 6-3
6. Henrik Sinkko (UWA) def. Ben Jarvis (MC) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3