Trojans Extend Winning Streak to Nine

Friday, March 29

Lafayette, La.

10:00 a.m.

Troy University

South Alabama

Photo by: Cass Davis

3/29/2013 6:15:00 PM | Tennis (W)

By: Matt Mays

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Troy women's tennis team extended its winning streak to nine matches with a 4-2 win over South Alabama on Friday on a neutral court. Troy is now 3-0 in Sun Belt matches and will face Louisiana-Lafayette tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Troy (13-4), which has not lost since February 17, took a back-and-forth doubles point and then won three singles matches to clinch the match over South Alabama (12-7) and push the Trojans record to 5-0 on a neutral court this season.

“Today was a gut check,” Troy head coach Eric Hayes said. “We have to learn to play at the highest intensity level from start to finish if we want to do something great. I'm really proud of the team's efforts, but today doesn't mean anything unless we finish tomorrow.”

After Hannah Toro and Rosaura Ramirez-Vega rolled at second doubles for Troy, 8-3, the Trojans seemed ready to clinch the opening point with their top team up 5-2. However, Karoline Grymel and Lyubov Dorofeeva fell at first doubles, 8-5, turning attention to third doubles.

That is where Troy's Candela Munoz Giron and Anja Cosovic where down 7-3 and facing a match point before fighting back to win 9-7 and give Troy the opening point.

Grymel and Dorofeeva rebounded in singles play as each won 6-2, 6-2 at first and second singles, respectively. Grymel's win was her seventh straight in singles play.

However, a South Alabama win at third singles was sandwiched between the two to make the score 3-1. The Jaguars also won at sixth singles to close the gap within a point at 3-2.

Toro clinched the match for Troy at fourth singles with a 7-5, 6-4 win, despite behind down 3-0 in the second set.

The Trojans will look to push their winning streak to 10 matches on Saturday when they take on Louisiana-Lafayette at Cajun Courts. The Cajuns played host to Arkansas State on Friday, defeating the Red Wolves 6-1.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

Troy 4, South Alabama 2

Singles competition
1. Karoline Grymel (TROY) def. Meszarosova, Mchaela (USA) 6-2, 6-2
2. Lyubov Dorofeeva (TROY) def. Krachok, Mariya (USA) 6-2, 6-2
3. Newton, Emily (USA) def. Anja Cosovic (TROY) 6-3, 6-2
4. Hannah Toro (TROY) def. Ghermani, Ramona (USA) 7-5, 6-4
5. Candela Munoz Giron (TROY) vs. Martin, Mary Angela (USA) 4-6, 5-3, unfinished
6. Papke, Cinta Maria (USA) def. Rosaura Ramirez-Vega (TROY) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Newton, Emily/Meszarosova, Mchaela (USA) def. Karoline Grymel/Lyubov Dorofeeva (TROY) 8-5
2. Hannah Toro/Rosaura Ramirez-Vega (TROY) def. Ghermani, Ramona/Krachok, Mariya (USA) 8-3
3. Candela Munoz Giron/Anja Cosovic (TROY) def. Papke, Cinta Maria/Martin, Mary Angela (USA) 9-7

Match Notes
South Alabama 12-7
Troy 13-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,2,6,4)
Rankings represent ITA Southern Regional rankings