Women’s Tennis Opens Season With 4-3 Win Versus Jackson State

Contact: Jeff Schneider

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team opened the 2014 season with a 4-3 win over Jackson State on Saturday at Cajun courts.

"I give Jackson State a lot of credit, they are much improved and put up a tremendous fight today," head coach Greg Harkins said. "Individually both Nelo Phiri and Alexandra Way stood out for us today. Alex joined the program just a few weeks ago coming from Adelaide, Australia. She showed a lot of guts to come back and win her first colligate match and help the team hang on for the 4-3 victory."

The Cajuns (1-0) won two of the three doubles matches as the team of Nelo Phiri and Nicole Breaux clinched the point on court one besting JSU's Angela Condorelli and Akshatha Ananth , 8-1.

In singles competition, Phiri was the first one off of the court claiming a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ananth at the No.1 position.

Sophomore Juliette Clement increased the Louisiana advantage to 3-0 picking up a strong 6-0, 6-2 win on court six over Rebekah Adewumi.

Jackson State reeled off three straight singles wins on courts two, three and four to even the contest at 3-all.

Freshman Alexandra Way battled back from an early first set deficit to clinch the match for the Ragin' Cajuns at the No.5 position. Way lost the first set 6-7 (0-7) but then reeled off wins in sets two and three 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to pull out the victory.

"This is college tennis," Harkins added. "Every time you walk out on the court it's going be tough. We were fortunate enough to end up on the winning end tonight. As long as we continue to improve then today's effort won't be in vain."

The Cajuns are back in action on Wednesday at 2 p.m. as they open a three-match road swing with a match in Baton Rouge at Southern Univeristy.

Louisiana 4, Jackson State 3

Singles competition
1. Nelo Phiri (UL) def. Akshatha Ananth (JSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. A. Zviahintseva (JSU) def. Nicole Breaux (UL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Angela Condorelli (JSU) def. Julie Cremers (UL) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Julie Angermann (JSU) def. Melissa Burckhartt (UL) 6-1, 6-1
5. Alexandra Way (UL) def. Kesica Jayapalan (JSU) 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
6. Juliette Clement (UL) def. Rebekah Adewumi (JSU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Nelo Phiri/Nicole Breaux (UL) def. Angela Condorelli/Akshatha Ananth (JSU) 8-1
2. Julie Angermann/A. Zviahintseva (JSU) def. Juliette Clement/Melissa Burckhartt (UL) 8-6
3. Julie Cremers/Alexandra Way (UL) def. Kesica Jayapalan/Rebekah Adewumi (JSU) 8-1

Match Notes:
Jackson State 0-5
Louisiana 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,6,4,3,2,5)
T-6:12 A-212

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Women’s Tennis Opens Season With 4-3 Win Versus Jackson State

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