LIVINGSTON, Ala. – After 10 matches away from home to start the 2024 season, the No. 11 University of West Alabama women's tennis team played at home for the first time and defeated the No. 17 University of West Florida, 6-1, Sunday from the Vaughan Tennis Complex.
UWA moves back over .500 with the win and are now 6-5 and 3-0 in the Gulf South Conference. UWF falls to 6-3 and 4-1.
"This was a good win today for us. Doubles went down to the wire, and they came out fighting in singles. Our top three were competitive, and it took some pressure off the lower half of our lineup to come out on top," said head coach
Jeff Beaman.
No. 14
Shaira Rivera and
Hardija Vidnere go to 7-1 on the year with their win at the top flight over Giuliana Sacco and Jenna Svatos, 6-4.
UWA got out to a 1-0 match lead with
Heden Ly and
Khim Iglupas (6-1) taking the No. 2 flight, 6-3, over Carlota Verdu and Liuza Daud.
In singles, No. 13 Iglupas (7-1) battled from a 7-6 (5) opening set loss to defeat Verdu, 6-3, 6-2 at the top flight.
Rivera (6-1) also had to battle through a seven-point tiebreak to win her flight at the No. 2. After narrowly defeating Aline Midori 7-5 in the opening frame, the second set went to the tiebreak, where Rivera won 7-3.
Vidnere (5-5),
Emiri Takanishi (5-4) and
Greta Zawels (2-3) also picked up wins in singles.
UWA will stay in Gulf South Conference play on Friday afternoon with a trip to Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi.
