University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, February 20
Lafayette
10 a.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
1
vs
4
Southern Miss
Southern Miss Tops Cajuns 4-1 on Saturday
2/20/2016 6:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LAFAYETTE -- In a Saturday morning match at Cajun Courts, the visiting undefeated Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7-0) defeated the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's tennis team by a 4-1 final.
The loss put the Cajuns record to 5-5 this season.
"We started off strong claiming the doubles point, but credit the other team for never giving up," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "Once singles started we made too many errors early on and we couldn't close on the deuce points.
"It's never easy taking a loss, but today's match reminds us what we need to work on," Vallejos added. "As with any other day of competition, we will learn from it and aim to play smarter in the next match."
The Cajuns won the doubles point, taking the No. 3 and No. 1 matches. At No. 3 doubles, senior Juliette Clement and sophomore Elena Sava defeated Elena Roca and Tjasa Jerse, 6-2. The Golden Eagles evened the doubles match at the No. 2 spot when Claudia Castell and Rikeetha Pereira defeated junior Alexandra Way and sophomore Abby Johnson by a 6-3 final.
Louisiana took the doubles point when senior Melissa Burckhartt and sophomore Kelly Drew prevailed over Carolin Drescher and Alex Kitchen, 7-5.
In singles, Drescher topped Drew, 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot, while Jerse defeated junior Dana Brankovic, 6-0, 6-2 in straight sets.
Southern Miss ended the match with victories at No. 3 and No. 6 singles. Pereira bested Burckhartt, 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 while Roca ended the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Way at No. 6 singles.
The Cajuns return to the court Sunday, Feb. 21 for a 1 p.m. first serve against Alcorn State.
Saturday's Results
Singles competition
1. Carolin Drescher (USM) def. Drew, Kelly (UL) 6-1, 6-3
2. Sava, Elena (UL) vs. Alex Kitchen (USM) 6-4, 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
3. Rikeetha Pereira (USM) def. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) 6-3, 6-0
4. Tjasa Jerse (USM) def. Brankovic, Dana (UL) 6-0, 6-2
5. Johnson, Abby (UL) vs. Claudia Castella (USM) 7-6 (8-6), unfinished
6. Elena Roca (USM) def. Way, Alexandra (UL) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Burckhartt, Melissa/Drew, Kelly (UL) def. Carolin Drescher/Alex Kitchen (USM) 7-5
2. Claudia Castella/Rikeetha Pereira (USM) def. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) 6-3
3. Clement, Juliette/Sava, Elena (UL) def. Elena Roca/Tjasa Jerse (USM) 6-2
Match Notes
Southern Miss 7-0
Louisiana 5-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,4,3,6)
The loss put the Cajuns record to 5-5 this season.
"We started off strong claiming the doubles point, but credit the other team for never giving up," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Stephanie Vallejos said. "Once singles started we made too many errors early on and we couldn't close on the deuce points.
"It's never easy taking a loss, but today's match reminds us what we need to work on," Vallejos added. "As with any other day of competition, we will learn from it and aim to play smarter in the next match."
The Cajuns won the doubles point, taking the No. 3 and No. 1 matches. At No. 3 doubles, senior Juliette Clement and sophomore Elena Sava defeated Elena Roca and Tjasa Jerse, 6-2. The Golden Eagles evened the doubles match at the No. 2 spot when Claudia Castell and Rikeetha Pereira defeated junior Alexandra Way and sophomore Abby Johnson by a 6-3 final.
Louisiana took the doubles point when senior Melissa Burckhartt and sophomore Kelly Drew prevailed over Carolin Drescher and Alex Kitchen, 7-5.
In singles, Drescher topped Drew, 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot, while Jerse defeated junior Dana Brankovic, 6-0, 6-2 in straight sets.
Southern Miss ended the match with victories at No. 3 and No. 6 singles. Pereira bested Burckhartt, 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 while Roca ended the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Way at No. 6 singles.
The Cajuns return to the court Sunday, Feb. 21 for a 1 p.m. first serve against Alcorn State.
Saturday's Results
Singles competition
1. Carolin Drescher (USM) def. Drew, Kelly (UL) 6-1, 6-3
2. Sava, Elena (UL) vs. Alex Kitchen (USM) 6-4, 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
3. Rikeetha Pereira (USM) def. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) 6-3, 6-0
4. Tjasa Jerse (USM) def. Brankovic, Dana (UL) 6-0, 6-2
5. Johnson, Abby (UL) vs. Claudia Castella (USM) 7-6 (8-6), unfinished
6. Elena Roca (USM) def. Way, Alexandra (UL) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Burckhartt, Melissa/Drew, Kelly (UL) def. Carolin Drescher/Alex Kitchen (USM) 7-5
2. Claudia Castella/Rikeetha Pereira (USM) def. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) 6-3
3. Clement, Juliette/Sava, Elena (UL) def. Elena Roca/Tjasa Jerse (USM) 6-2
Match Notes
Southern Miss 7-0
Louisiana 5-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,4,3,6)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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