LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The No. 2 University of West Florida women's tennis team knocked off the No. 1 nationally-ranked University of West Alabama 4-3 on Saturday at the Vaughan Tennis Complex. West Florida secured four singles victories to clinch the match, overcoming a doubles sweep by West Alabama.
West Alabama secured the doubles point with victories on all three courts. Shaira Rivera and Alexa Milliam defeated
Carlota Verdu and
Sandra Recuenco 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. Valentina Mutilba and Jenaila Prulla edged out Aline Midori and
Guadalupe Martinez 7-6 at No. 2 doubles, while Nanoka Kazama and Greta Zawels overcame Kyle Kochis and
Sophie Smith 7-6 at No. 3 doubles.
In singles play, West Florida rebounded strongly, beginning with Verdu's comeback victory at No. 1 singles, defeating Rivera 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Recuenco added another point for West Florida with a win at No. 2 singles, prevailing over Milliam 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Midori continued the momentum at No. 3 singles, overcoming Mutilba 7-6, 0-6, 6-3.
Martinez clinched the match for West Florida with a straight-sets win at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 7-6 over Jian Ibrahim. West Alabama gained points at the lower positions, with Prulla defeating Alberte Jorgensen 6-4, 6-0 at No. 5 singles, and Kazama securing a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Kochis at No. 6 singles.
Doubles
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Shaira Rivera/Alexa Milliam (UWA) def.
Carlota Verdu/
Sandra Recuenco (UWF) 6-1
Aline Midori/Guadalupe Martinez (UWF) def. Valentina Mutilba/Jenaila Prulla (UWA) 7-5
Nanoka Kazama/Greta Zawels (UWA) def. Kyle Kochis/
Sophie Smith (UWF) 7-6
Singles
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Carlota Verdu (UWF) def. Shaira Rivera (UWA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
Sandra Recuenco (UWF) def. Alexa Milliam (UWA) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Aline Midori (UWF) def. Valentina Mutilba (UWA) 7-6, 0-6, 6-3
Guadalupe Martinez (UWF) def. Jian Ibrahim (UWA) 6-3, 7-6
Jenaila Prulla (UWA) def. Alberte Jorgensen (UWF) 6-4, 6-0
Nanoka Kazama (UWA) def. Kyle Kochis (UWF) 6-4, 6-2
Up next for the Argonauts is a home match against Delta State on Tuesday, March 10 at 1 p.m. at the Ralph "Skeeter" Carson Tennis Complex in Pensacola, Florida.
For more information on the UWF women's tennis program, visit GoArgos.com and follow the team on social media at @uwfwomenstennis (Instagram) and @TennisUWF (X).
