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CLINTON, Miss. – Perfection can be a challenge, and the No. 11 University of West Alabama women's tennis team have seen ups and downs during the 2024 season. However, on Thursday from the campus of Mississippi College, the Tigers overcame a late rally by the No. 21 Choctaws to take the 4-3 victory in the regular season finale.
West Alabama finishes the regular campaign 14-8 overall and a perfect 10-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Mississippi College will enter the postseason with a 13-8 overall record and 7-3 in the league.
After locking up the Regular Season title and the No. 1 seed in the GSC Championship a couple of days ago, the win secured a fourth straight undefeated season for the Tigers and the fifth in the last six years (2019-21-22-23-24). West Alabama has won 43 straight regular season matches, dating back to Feb. 14, 2020.
"I am very proud of this team and its accomplishments, but we still have a lot to do. Another undefeated season is a true testament to our program over the six years," said head coach
Jeff Beaman.
In doubles, the Tigers and Choctaws traded wins at the first two flights. No. 10
Shaira Rivera and
Hardija Vidnere were upset by No. 27 Elyangelica Alas and Fernanda Cota, but
Khim Iglupas and
Heden Ly (11-3) evened things at one apiece with their 6-4 win at the No. 2.
Coming down to the last flight,
Valentina Mutilba and
Emiri Takanishi picked up their first win as a doubles duo with a 7-5 result to put the Tigers ahead 1-0.
UWA got out to a 3-1 lead with win by Iglupas (17-1) and Ly (9-9), but the Choctaws made it interesting, winning the No. 4 and No. 5 spots to even the match up at 3-3.
It all came down to the No. 6 spot in the lineup, as Vidnere fell in the first set, 6-3. In the second, with the graduate student up 5-2, her opponent in Anna Hudson would not go away, as she won four of the final five games to even the frame up at 6-6 with a tiebreak looming.
Vidnere (9-9) dominated in the break. Leading 3-2, she won the final four points to force the third set after a 7-6 (2) score.
In the third, the momentums stayed with UWA, as the Bradford, United Kingdom native shut out Hudson in the stanza to take the point and match.
With the regular season in the books, the Tigers will return to action for the 2024 GSC Championship. Official seedings and opponents will be announced early next week. The quarterfinal round will take place next Saturday, April 27, in Montgomery, Alabama.
