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Heden Ly
UWF Athletics
1
University of West Alabama UWA (17-3)
4
Winner University of West Florida UWF (16-5)
University of West Alabama UWA
(17-3)
1
Final
4
University of West Florida UWF
(16-5)
Winner

Match Recap: #5 Women's Tennis |

UWF Ends Memorable UWA Season at South Regional

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The third time was the charm for West Florida, as the Lady Argonauts defeated West Alabama, 4-1, Saturday in the semi-finals of the 2021 NCAA Division II Women's South Regional Championship at the Ralph "Skeeter" Davis Tennis Complex.
 
Ranked seventh in the nation, West Florida (16-5) upset the fourth-ranked Tigers (17-3) to advance to the region championship against Barry University (11-0) Sunday at noon. The most successful season in program history ended for West Alabama with the loss.
 
UWA and UWF had already played twice this season, once in the regular season and then in the Gulf South Conference Championship finals, with the Tigers winning both matches, 4-3.
 
"Today was not the result we were hoping for but I want to thank the women for the great year we had," UWA head coach Jeff Beaman said. "We will use this experience to keep getting better as a program.
 
"In a normal year I have to think we might have been hosting a regional after winning the GSC regular season and tournament, but as we know, nothing about this year has been normal," Beaman said. "With that said, the top programs use every situation to get better and I know that's what we will do."
 
West Florida jumped to a 3-0 lead after winning the doubles point with wins on Courts 2 and 3 before taking singles points on Courts 1 and 4. 
 
Karolina Silwanowicz and Samantha Echevarria defeated Heden Ly and Thea Yang, 6-1, at No. 2 doubles, followed by Irene Recuenco and Mayumi Saguchi downing Daryna Hukasian and Hardija Vidnere, 6-4, at No.3 doubles. The match at No. 1 was unfinished.
 
UWF's Berta Bonardi, the No. 3 singles player in the country, defeated No. 44 Sarah Manseri 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Sara Yigin then beat Hukasian 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 to stretch the Lady Argos lead to 3-0.
 
Haina Franco, ranked 37th nationally in singles, kept West Alabama's hopes alive with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles over 29th-ranked Recuenco. The hope was short-lived after Saguchi defeated Valeria Arevalo 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 at No. 6 singles to clinch the match for West Florida.
 
Singles matches on Courts 3 and 5 were unfinished after Saguchi clinched the win for West Florida. UWA's Thea Yang was ahead of Echevarria at No. 5 and Silwanowicz was slightly ahead of Heden Ly at No. 3 singles when the match ended.
 
"Our seniors, Sarah (Manseri), Daryna (Hukasian) and Morgan (Bishop) will be missed and have been a huge part of our success," Beaman said. "I would also like to thank (graduate assistant coach) Katie (Burrall) for both her time here as a player and coach."
 
#7 West Florida (16-5) vs #4 West Alabama (17-3)
5/8/2021 at University of West Florida (Ralph "Skeeter" Carson Tennis Complex) 
 
West Florida 4, West Alabama 1 
Doubles
1. Sarah Manseri/Haina Franco (UWA) 4, Berta Bonardi/Sarah Yigin (5/-) (UWF) 3 (unfinished)
2. Karolina Silwanowicz/Samantha Echevarria (UWA) def. Heden Ly/Thea Yang (UWA) 6-1
3. Irene Recuenco/Mayumi Saguchi (UWF) def. Daryna Hukasian/Hardija Vidnere (UWA) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 3
 
Singles
1. #3 Berta Bonardi (UWF) def. #44 Sarah Manseri (UWA) 6-0, 6-1
2. #37 Haina Franco def. #29 Irene Recuenco (UWF) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
3. Karolina Silwanowicz (UWF) vs. Heden Ly (UWF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-5 (unfinished)
4. Sarah Yigin (UWF) def. Daryna Hukasian (UWA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Samantha Echevarria (UWF) vs Thea Yang (UWA) 6-4, 3-6, 0-3 (unfinished)
6. Mayumi Saguchi (UWF) def. Valeria Arevalo (UWA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,4,2,6
 
 
 
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