Women’s Tennis Battles Two A-Sun Opponents in Lunsford

Friday, February 24

Troy, Ala.

1:30 p.m.

Troy University

North Alabama

AC Pepe Llinares - Valeriia Avdeeva - vs. Jacksonville - Chambers - 1

Women’s Tennis Battles Two A-Sun Opponents in Lunsford

2/23/2023 10:00:00 AM | Tennis (W)

LIVE STATS (NORTH ALABAMA)LIVE STATS (LIPSCOMB)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – The Troy women's tennis team looks to return to winning ways with two home matches lined up this weekend at the Lunsford Tennis Complex against A-Sun's North Alabama and Lipscomb.

After suffering its first loss of the season against in-state foe Jacksonville State, the Trojans (3-1) take on the Lions (1-5) at 1:30 p.m. on Friday before Sunday's matchup with the Bisons (3-4) at 11 a.m.

Match Information
Friday, Feb. 24 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. – Lunsford Tennis Complex
The Matchup: Troy (3-1) vs. North Alabama (1-5)

Sunday, Feb. 26 – 11 a.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. – Lunsford Tennis Complex
The Matchup: Troy (3-1) vs. Lipscomb (3-4)

First Loss
The Trojans entered Saturday undefeated, with 11 straight points scored. They continued the streak to 12 in doubles after Olivia Elliott / Andrea Widing battled for the 7-6 victory, where they dominated the tiebreaker, 7-1.

JSU roared back with four straight singles points that saw Kristina Kukaras, Olivia Elliott, Valeriia Avdeeva and Maria Guirguis fall for the first time in 2022-23 dual singles to suffer the loss. However, Franziska Ahrend and Hagar Amin redeemed the loss, grabbing two more points for a respectable 4-3 score.

Lion's Den
The 2022-23 season has been a struggle for the Lions, suffering three straight losses by a combined score of 15-4. History hints at the struggle continuing as UNA is 0-3 in recorded history against the Trojans, including a 4-3 loss last season where Elliott clinched the match on a 6-2, 7-5 victory.

Matrina Paladini stands as the only player with a positive singles record at 2-1 on court two for UNA – rest of the team combines for a 3-14 record. Doubles competition is split with three players winless and three players with a .500 record for a combined 2-5 for the team.

Looking at Lipscomb
Lipscomb got off to a hot 3-1 start to the spring schedule before dropping its last three. The most recent loss saw the Bisons fall 4-3 to Middle Tennessee State. Down 3-2, Lipscomb's Sofiia Paladi couldn't hang on to a 6-2 win in the first set, falling in back-to-back, 6-3, 6-3.

Sunday marks the first meeting for Lipscomb and Troy since 2010, where Troy walked away victorious, 6-1. It's also the second SBC opponent the Bisons face in nonconference play after defeating Georgia State 5-2 on Jan. 27.