MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women’s tennis team dropped its opening round contest at the Gulf South Conference Tennis Championship to Delta State, 5-1 and fell by the identical score to Arkansas Tech in the consolation semifinals.

Against the Lady Statesmen, who entered as the top-seed from the GSC West, UWA managed to pick up its lone point in doubles, as the duo Mariana Freitas and Victoria Jones edged DSU’s Cecile Benzaki and Tatiana Bouchard, 9-7.  DSU’s Krystle Ozois downed Tiger senior Brittany Williams, 6-0, 6-1.  UWA’s Amanda Morgan and Cori Waters suffered 6-0, 6-0 setbacks to Bouchard and Priscila Duarte respectively.

In the consolation match, ATU swept all three doubles points to gain the advantage.  Freitas turned in straight-sets 6-0, 6-2 over ATU’s Michelle Yu to post UWA’s point in the match.  Jones battled ATU’s Saki Matsouka before falling 6-1, 6-4.

UWA finishes the season 14-15 overall and earned a berth in the GSC post season event for the second-consecutive season.

QUARTERFINALS

W1 Delta State 5, E4 West Alabama 1

Doubles

1.) Mariana Freitas/Victoria Jones (UWA) def. Cecile Benzaki/Tatiana Bouchard (DSU), 9-7
2.) Krystle Ozols/Lisa Jamais (DSU) def. Nicole Shanahan/Amanda Morgan (UWA), 8-3
3.) Katherina Nett/Milena Araujo(DSU) def. Brittany Williams/Cori Waters (UWA), 8-2
Singles
4.) Krystle Ozols (DSU) def. Brittany Williams (UWA), 6-0, 6-1

5.) Tatiana Bouchard (DSU) def. Amanda Morgan (UWA), 6-0, 6-0

6.) Priscila Duarte (DSU) def. Cori Waters (UWA), 6-0, 6-0

CONSOLATION/SEMIFINALS

Arkansas Tech 5, West Alabama 1
Doubles

1.) Anna Carson/Saki Matsouka (ATU) def. Mariana Freitas/Victoria Jones (UWA), 8-0
2.) Michelle Yu/Brittany Turner (ATU) def. Nicole Shanahan/Amanda Morgan (UWA), 8-6

3.) Jessica James/Kristen Brown (ATU) def. Brittany Williams/Cori Waters (UWA), 8-4
Singles
2.) Saki Matsouka (ATU) def. Victoria Jones (UWA), 6-1, 6-4
3.) Mariana Freitas (UWA) def. Michelle Yu (ATU), 6-0, 6-2

5.) Kristen Brown (ATU) def. Amanda Morgan (UWA),6-0, 6-0