WTEN LeTrone Mason // Maria Paredes
4
Winner Georgia State GSU (1-9)
3
Southern Miss USMWTN (5-2)
Winner
Georgia State GSU
(1-9)
4
Final
3
Southern Miss USMWTN
(5-2)

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

Panthers Secure 4-3 Victory Over Southern Miss in Sun Belt Opener

HATTIESBURG, Miss.— Georgia State women's tennis traveled on the road and opened Sun Belt Conference competition with a 4-3 victory over Southern Miss on Saturday. The win in Hattiesburg marks LeTrone Mason's first victory as head coach for the Panthers in a season that has seen GSU compete with a shorthanded roster since entering 2023. 

The Panthers entered Saturday's match facing Southern Miss down a third line for doubles and forced to default at the No. 3 court. Despite the disadvantage, Maria Paredes and Alexia Alvarez notched a 6-3 win at the second doubles court, while Michelle Ncube and Pragnya Kumar downed opponents at the top court, 6-4, to claim the early point for GSU and even the match at 1-1 entering singles.

Eva Chivu recorded a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win in straight sets at the top singles court, earning the team its second point and giving GSU a 2-1 lead in the match. Ncube followed up the strong doubles outing by posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory at the second singles court to extend the Panthers' lead.

Paredes rounded out the teams' victories at the top-three singles courts and clinched match point for the Panthers with a 6-1, 6-4 win at the third court. The freshman native of Spain has now charted four wins for the spring with only two defeats, to go with four matches unfinished while leading up a set.

With the default at No. 6 singles and losses on courts four and five for GSU, Southern Miss would claim three points for the match. Ending at a 4-3 final count, the win marks the first of the season for GSU as the Panthers improve to 1-9 on the year. 

GSU enters the back-half of its schedule now holding a 1-0 record in conference play following Saturday's win. The victory over Southern Miss also serves as the first win for Mason as head coach for the Panthers.

Despite the team's circumstances thus far in the spring, the Panthers' head coach has remained positive.

"With us being down a player most of the year, the girls have never once given up," Mason said. "Today they were rewarded for their hard work and mental toughness with a win— and a conference win at that. I'm really happy for them."

Originally scheduled to return to action on Sunday facing conference foe South Alabama, rain delays caused the match in Mobile, Alabama to be postponed to a later date. More information regarding the rescheduled date, time and location for the Panthers' match against the Jaguars will be announced on the team's social media and on the web.

Follow Georgia State women's tennis on Twitter (@GSUWTennis) and Instagram (@GSUWomensTennis) for continued news and updates throughout the 2023 season.



 



 
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