AMERICUS, Ga. – The University of West Alabama men’s and women’s tennis team knocked off a pair of region foes on Friday as UWA topped Fort Valley State and Georgia Southwestern. Both squads blanked Fort Valley 5-0 before the Tiger men topped GSW 5-2. The UWA women edged GSW 5-4.
UWA moved to 12-4 on the men’s side, while the women’s team improved to 11-5 on the season.
In the GSW men’s match, the Tigers claimed two of the three doubles points to gain the advantage heading into singles play. Playing in his first match of the season, Benny Delgado Rochas teamed up with Danish Ahmad at No. 2 doubles to down GSW’s pairing of Ignacio Donnet and Malcolm Gilliam, 8-5. At No. 3, James Gardner and Juan Felipe Tellez cruised past the tandem of Adrian Knight and Rashad Carson, 8-2. UWA claimed three of the four matches completed to secure the win. Tellez defeated Ryan Bartz, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2. Gardner turned back Munoz in a three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Wade Covington clinched the match with a 7-6, 6-2 win over GSW’s Carson.
On the women’s side, it turned into a family affair as UWA’s Angy Cuellar competed against her sister, Leady Cuellar, in doubles and faced her at the top singles spot. GSW’s Cuellar paired with Lauren Grogan to top the UWA tandem, 8-3. In singles, A. Cuellar suffered a 6-2, 6-2 setback to her sibling. UWA claimed the points at No. 2 and 3 doubles and won the match late in singles play. Emily Gerding added a point at No. 2 as she downed GSW’s Mollie McGowan, 7-5, 6-1. Brittney Bowden posted a 6-0, 6-4 win over Grogan. Polina Babkina outlasted GSW’s Melinda Vansant after dropping the first set 6-2. Babkina bounced back to win 6-2, 6-1 in the final two sets. Katy Shoptaugh rounded out the points with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 6.
In the FVSU match, both squads made quick work of the Wildcats, sweeping the doubles portion of the match and taking two singles positions.
UWA returns to the hardcourts on Saturday, March 20, taking on Tuskegee University.