Troy Conquers North Alabama for Fourth Straight Win

Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Contact: Robert Stevens, 315-807-8109

TROY, Ala. - After taking the 3-0 lead early, Troy completes its fourth straight victory over North Alabama, 4-3, at the UNA Varsity Tennis Courts

Despite starting the season 0-2, the Trojans (4-2) have sparked their longest winning streak since the 2019-2020 season (4).

The Lions (0-9) are still winless in 2022 as they fall in their home opener.

Going Up Quick
The Trojans won doubles competition for the fifth straight time to give them the 1-0 lead after Michelle Ncube / Kristina Kukaras secured the first match over Kalais Going / Makayla Loubser, 6-0.

Chiara Dabrano / Franziska Ahrend finished doubles competition with a solid 6-2 victory over Payton Andrews / Lee-Taylor Bishop, leaving the Andrea Widing / Anastasiia Khokhlova and Sydney Flesch / Juliette Talieu match unfinished.

Ahrend and Hagar Amin quickly put the Trojans up 3-0 after Ahrend took it to Loubser, 6-0, 6-1. Amin followed it up, only losing two sets against Going, 6-2, 6-0, to put Troy just one point from clinching and provided some necessary cushion.

Extinguishing the Fire
Troy found itself up 3-0 early before the Lions marched back in the next two matches.

Andrews sparked the comeback for the Lions over Khokhlova, 6-3, 6-2, as Khokhlova drops her sixth straight singles match to open the season.

The Lions found themselves just one point from tying the match, 3-2, as Flesch took down Ncube, 6-1, 6-2.

When it seemed as if the Lions had claimed the momentum, Olivia Elliott provided the clinch.

Elliott took the first set with ease, winning 6-2 before finding herself down 5-3 in the second.

At match point, Elliott made a comeback, taking four straight to take the match 7-5 and securing Troy's win.

From Coach Rawia
"We dominated doubles, and the girls executed very well on each court. The doubles point was key to giving us the lead for today's match. It came down to Olivia in her singles match to clinch the win for today. She was down 3-5 in the second set but came back and won 7-5 to give us the lead 4-2 and the win. I am very proud of the girls. They competed with lots of heart today and earned their 4th straight win."

Match Results
Doubles Competition:
1. Sydney Flesch / Juliette Talieu (UNA) vs. Andrea Widing / Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) 3-3, UF
2. Chiara Dabrano / Franziska Ahrend (TROY) def. Payton Andrews / Lee-Taylor Bishop (UNA) 6-2
3. Michelle Ncube / Kristina Kukaras (TROY) def. Kalais Going / Makayla Loubser (UNA) 6-0

Order of finish: 3, 2

Singles Competition:
1. Payton Andrews (UNA) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) 6-3, 6-2
2. Juliette Talieu (UNA) def. Kristina Kukaras (TROY) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
3. Sydney Flesch (UNA) def. Michelle Ncube (TROY) 6-1, 6-2
4. Hagar Amin (TROY) def. Kalais Going (UNA) 6-2, 6-0
5. Olivia Elliott (TROY) def. Lee-Taylor Bishop (UNA) 6-2, 7-5
6. Franziska Ahrend (TROY) def. Makayla Loubser (UNA) 6-0, 6-1

Order of finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 5, 2

Blue Gray National Tennis Classic Up Next
Troy returns home to welcome multiple undisclosed teams to compete in the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic next Friday and Saturday at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.

Troy Conquers North Alabama for Fourth Straight Win

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Players Mentioned

Franziska Ahrend

Olivia Elliott

Anastasiia Khokhlova

Kristina Kukaras

Michelle Ncube

Hagar Ramadan-Amin

Andrea Widing

Troy University Athletics