BOX SCORE

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The sixth-ranked UWF women's tennis team won four of six singles matches in three sets to complete one of the most thrilling comebacks in program history and claim the 2017 Gulf South Conference Tournament Championship at the Lagoon Park Tennis Complex Saturday.
 
With UWF trailing 2-1 after doubles play, second-seeded and 10th-ranked Valdosta State won straight-set matches at the Nos. 3 and 4 positions to grab a 4-1 lead an appear ready to end one of the longest winning streaks in league history. But the Argonauts dug deep and made sure the Blazers knew the 5-time defending champs weren't going down without a fight.
 
"Valdosta played really good doubles today," UWF head coach Derrick Racine said. "We were down in (number) one doubles most of the match but ended up getting into the tiebreak and eventually winning, so that gave us a little more life."
 
Valeria Mantilla fought back from a set down at No. 6 to start the comeback with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-0 win. She won the final nine games in her match. At. No. 5, Heather Mixon appeared to have her match in hand in the second set but was broken and forced into a third. She ran her dual record to league-best 22-3 with a 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 win to pull the Argos to within 4-3.
 
34th-ranked Paula Lopez also outlasted her opponent – 13th-ranked Bea Morales Hernandez – 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 to tie the match at 4-4.
 
That put the championship in the hands of the No. 2 match between UWF's Paula Coyos and Valdosta's Anja Coksa, who split the first two sets, 7-6, 4-6. Coyos led 5-2 in the third before Coksa tied it at 5-5. The UWF junior then won the final two games to set off the celebration.
 
"Anytime you can go into a tight match and pull it out, it gives you the confidence to go the distance against anyone."
 
UWF (23-6) won its record 17th GSC title while extending its win streak over league opponents to 81-consecutive victories. The Argos are currently ranked third in the NCAA South Region and will find out their postseason destination on Tuesday night when the NCAA field of 48 is announced on NCAA.com at 7:00 p.m. Central time.