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Championship WTN Photo
GSC
3
University of West Florida UWF (15-5)
4
Winner University of West Alabama UWA (17-2)
University of West Florida UWF
(15-5)
3
Final
4
University of West Alabama UWA
(17-2)
Winner

Match Recap: #5 Women's Tennis |

CHAMPIONS! Tigers Beat UWF, 4-3, in GSC Finals

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the first time in school history the University of West Alabama women's tennis team has won both the regular season and the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament by defeating West Florida, 4-3, Saturday at Lagoon Park.
 
Fifth-ranked and top-seeded West Alabama claimed the doubles point, got behind 1-3, but roared back to claim the final three singles courts to earn the victory over the seventh-ranked Lady Argonauts. West Alabama's victory stopped West Florida's streak of consecutive GSC tourney titles at nine.
 
West Alabama is now 17-2 and has won 12 straight matches heading into NCAA South Region play. West Florida is 15-5. 
 
With its first GSC tournament championship in the history of the program, West Alabama will not make its first-ever trip to the NCAA regionals May 7-9 in Pensacola, Florida.
 
"This group has worked hard all year," UWA head coach Jeff Beaman said. "It has been a pleasure to be a part of what they accomplished.
 
"This match started with great emotion in the doubles winning that point," Beaman said. "Then we went down 1-3 but showed tremendous fight to win the remaining matches under extreme pressure."
 
West Alabama won the doubles point thanks to Thea Yang and Heden Ly defeating Karolina Silwanowicz and Samantha Echevarria, 6-3, at No. 2, while Hardija Vidnere and Daryna Hukasian beat Irene Recuenco and Raissa Wagner, 6-0, at No. 3.
 
West Florida took singles wins at No. 1, 4 and 6 to go up 3-1. Ly then won in three sets over Silwanowicz, 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and Yang battled back from an 0-5 deficit at No. 5 to defeat Echevarria 7-6, 6-3. Franco clinched the Tiger championship with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Recuenco at No. 2 singles.
 
The 2020-21 NCAA Championships will be held May 18-22 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.
 
#5 (1 seed) West Alabama 4, #7 (2 seed) West Florida 3
 
Singles competition
1. Berta Bonardi (UWF) def. Sarah Manseri (UWA) 6-2, 6-2
2. Haina Franco (UWA) def. Irene Recuenco (UWF) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Heden Ly (UWA) def. Karolina Silwanowicz (UWF) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
4. Sara Yigin (UWF) def. Daryna Hukasian (UWA) 6-3, 6-2
5. Thea Yang (UWA) def. Samantha Echevarria (UWF) 7-6, 6-3
6. Raissa Wagner (UWF) def. Valeria Arevalo (UWA) 6-4, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Sarah Manseri/Haina Franco (UWA) vs. Berta Bonardi/Sara Yigin (UWF) 4-3, unfinished
2. Heden Ly/Thea Yang (UWA) def. Karolina Silwanowicz/Samantha Echevarria (UWF) 6-3
3. Hardija Vidnere/Daryna Hukasian (UWA) def. Irene Recuenco/Raissa Wagner (UWF) 6-0
 
Match Notes:
West Florida 15-5; National ranking #7
West Alabama 17-2; National ranking #5
First GSC Tournament Championship for UWA in school history
Tigers won 2021 regular season and tournament
UWA has 12-match winning streak
55-minute weather delay
 
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