#5 Women's Tennis 4/10/2023 9:49:00 PM

Women’s Tennis Earns Fourth Consecutive GSC Regular Season Championship Title

Box Score

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – West Alabama women's tennis team defeated Mississippi College 5-2 in a Gulf South Conference match Monday afternoon at Vaughan Tennis Complex to claim the GSC Regular Season Championship Title for the fourth consecutive season.

The Tigers finished the regular season with a 16-5 overall record and went undefeated in GSC play with a 10-0 record. The Choctaws are 14-4 overall and finished 7-3 in conference play.

The Tigers enter the GSC Championship Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will face the No. 8 seed Christian Brothers in the first round of the tournament.

Head coach Jeff Beaman honored two seniors before the match. Haina Franco has been at UWA for five seasons. Yurie Takanishi joined the Tigers this season.

"Coaches talk about the goal of getting a ring and a to have four rings and a degree in May is not something many college athletes experience," Beaman said.

The Tigers finished the regular season with a 16-5 overall record and went undefeated in GSC play with a 10-0 record. The Choctaws are 14-4 overall and finished 7-3 in conference play.

In doubles play, Heden Ly and Hardija Vidnere defeated MC's Alas Ely and Cota Fernanda on court No. 3, 6-2. On court No. 1, Franco and Ming Deewajee were defeated by MC's Gabrielle Geolier and Anna Hudson, 7-6. The Takanashi sisters clinched the doubles point by defeating MC's Emma Roberts and Maria Rodriguez on court No. 3, 6-2.

In singles play, Franco defeated Alas Ey on court No. 1, 6-2, 6-0. Y. Takanishi defeated Emma Roberts on court No. 2, 6-0, 6-2. Ly clinched the overall win for the Tigers defeating MC's Cota Fernanda on court No. 3, 6-2, 6-3. Vidnere was defeated by MC's Gabrielle Geolier in a three-set battle on court No. 4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-10. Deewajee defeated Anna Valiaeva on court No. 5, 6-2, 6-2. Morgan Bishop was defeated on court No. 6 by MC's Anna Hudson, 6-3, 6-4.

"The women have done a great job and accomplished amazing things over the past few years," head coach Jeff Beaman said. "It has not been easy, and we have had bumps in the road," Beaman said.

West Alabama 5, Mississippi College 2

Doubles Competition

1. Alas Ely/Cota Fernanda (MC) def. Haina Franco/Ming Deewajee (UWA) 6-2
2. Yurie Takanishi/Emiri Takanishi (UWA) def. Gabrielle Geolier/Anna Valiaeva (MC) 7-6
3. Hardija Vidnere/Heden Ly (UWA) def. Emma Roberts/Maria Rodriguez (MC) 6-2

Order to Finish:  3, 1, 2

Singles Competition

1.   Haina Franco (UWA) def. Alas Ely (MC) 6-2, 6-0
2. Yurie Takanishi (UWA) def. Emma Roberts (MC) 6-0, 6-2
3.  Heden Ly (UWA) def. Cota Fernanda (MC) 6-2, 6-3
4. Gabrielle Geolier (MC) def. Hardija Vidnere (UWA) 4-6, 6-4, 10-6
5. Ming Deewajee (UWA) def. Anna Valiaeva (MC) 6-2, 6-2
6. Anna Hudson (MC) def. Morgan Bishop (UWA)6-3, 6-4

Order to Finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

To stay connected with UWA Tennis, follow the University of West Alabama Tennis Instagram page, General athletic news along with game recaps and box scores can be found at UWAAthletics.com. Additional updates and information are available @UWAAthletics on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Haina Franco: 5' 3"; Fifth Year

Heden Ly: 5' 5"; Junior

Emiri Takanishi: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Hardija Vidnere: 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Yurie Takanishi: 5' 9"; Senior

Morgan Bishop: Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Haina Franco
: 5' 3"; Fifth Year

Heden Ly
: 5' 5"; Junior

Emiri Takanishi
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Hardija Vidnere
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Yurie Takanishi
: 5' 9"; Senior

Morgan Bishop
: Graduate Student