PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Valdosta State women's tennis team traveled to Pensacola, Fla. on Friday to open up a long stretch of matches at West Florida, and the team started things off on the right foot with a 5-4 Gulf South Conference win over the Lady Statesmen of Delta State.

The victory bumped the No. 23 Lady Blazers up to 7-6 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while DSU fell to 5-4 overall and evened up their GSC record at 2-2 on the season.

Jennifer Rink, the reigning Steel's Jewelry Blazer of the Week, teamed up with Anke Poncelet in the early going to claim an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles over the Lady Statesmen's Charlotte LeFlohic and Sophia Luisa Niemeyer combo. The remaining two doubles matches went in favor of Delta State, however, as Bea Morales Hernandez and Joanna Lario fell 9-8 (5) at No. 2 to Alex Howe and Katharina Assmann, and DSU took No. 3 doubles by default.

Facing a 3-1 deficit at the start of singles play after being forced to forfeit at No. 6 due to a shortened roster, the Lady Blazers took complete control of the match and picked up wins at each of the top four singles matches.

No. 15 ranked Morales Hernandez cruised at No. 1 to defeat Assmann 6-0, 6-1, while Rink romped LeFlohic 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2. The clutch effort continued at No. 3, when Lario pieced together a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Howe, and Poncelet routed Hristina Koceva 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 to close out the triumph for Valdosta State.

The Lady Blazers claimed their third consecutive victory with the comeback effort and will continue in Pensacola with a noon conference match against Christian Brothers on Saturday.