Troy Advances Over Arkansas State in SBC First Round

Thursday, April 21

Peachtree City, Ga.

1 p.m.

Troy University

Arkansas State

Troy Advances Over Arkansas State in SBC First Round

4/21/2022 6:00:00 PM | Tennis (W)

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - For the second straight season, No. 6-seed Troy advances to the SBC quarterfinals after defeating No. 11-seed Arkansas State, 4-2, at the Peachtree City Tennis Center on Thursday afternoon.

Troy (10-12, 4-6 SBC) claimed its sixth double-digit win season in the last 10 years with its 11th straight win over the Red Wolves (6-15, 2-8 SBC).

Never In Doubt
Tied 2-2, after Yasmine Humbert defeated Franziska Ahrend on court six, 6-3, 6-4, the Trojans rattled off two-straight wins.

On court two, Anastasiia Khokhlova took it to Emily Surcey. The senior dominated the first set, defeating the Red Wolf, 6-2. Khokhlova provided Troy with a 3-2 cushion in her 6-4 victory in the second set.

That victory left Michelle Ncube and Hagar Amin in play with match point insight. Ncube won her first set in the tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-2), and was one point from clinching the win, 5-2. However, Amin brought it home for Troy on court four- clinched a 4-3 win over ASU on April 2.

The Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year was down early in the first set, 5-2, before storming back to take the set, 7-5. The freshman made the rest seem easy, quickly taking the second set, 6-1, to advance Troy into the quarterfinal round.

Strong Singles Start
The Trojans found themselves down 1-0 before starting singles off strong, winning on courts five and one.

Olivia Elliott got Troy started, claiming the first set with a convincing 6-2 victory. Then, in the second set, Elliott tied the match for Troy with the 6-3 win.

Kristina Kukaras returned to the court with victory on her mind, providing the gentleman's sweep in the first set, 6-1. The sophomore put Troy up 2-1 with a 6-4 victory in the second set.

Quote from Coach
"I'm very proud of these girls for pulling off this huge win over the Red Wolves," head coach Rawia Elsisi. "It was a tough start as A-State got out to a quick lead. They are easily one of the top teams in that area. But, once singles started, these girls took complete control of the match and took off in the first sets across the board. Anastasiia's win was pivotal for the match. That win gave us enough cushion to let Hagar and Michelle do the rest. Definitely an amazing win for her in her senior year. Hagar's comeback was incredible, being down 5-2 in the first set and battling back. That comeback was the match."

Quarterfinal Round
Troy returns to action in the quarterfinal round tomorrow at 1 p.m., searching for redemption against the third-seeded UT-Arlington at the Peachtree City Tennis Center. The ESPN+ televised event pits the Trojans against the Mavericks (21-2, 9-1) in a rematch from March 27, where Troy was swept 4-0.

Match Results
Doubles Competition:
1. Rice, Thea/Zukic, Nejla (AST) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova/Andrea Widing (TROY) 6-3
2. Hagar Amin/Michelle Ncube (TROY) vs. Humbert, Yasmine/Vdovychenko, Sofia (AST) 5-4, unfinished
3. Surcey, Emily/Roper, Hunter (AST) def. Kristina Kukaras/Chiara Desia Dabarno (TROY) 6-3

Order of finish (1, 3)

Singles Competition:
1. Kristina Kukaras (TROY) def. Rice, Thea (AST) 6-1, 6-4
2. Anastasiia Khokhlova (TROY) def. Surcey, Emily (AST) 6-2, 6-4
3. Michelle Ncube (TROY) vs. Zukic, Nejla (AST) 7-6 (7-2), 5-2, unfinished
4. Hagar Amin (TROY) def. Roper, Hunter (AST) 7-5, 6-1
5. Olivia Elliott (TROY) def. Vdovychenko, Sofia (AST) 6-2, 6-3
6. Humbert, Yasmine (AST) def. Franziska Ahrend (TROY) 6-3, 6-4

Order of finish (5, 1, 6, 2, 4)