VALDOSTA, Ga. – Fresh off a 5-2 victory over Montevallo last week, the Valdosta State women's tennis team is set to host No. 13 Columbus State on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and then will host No. 6 West Florida Friday at 2 p.m. Both matches will be at the VSU Tennis Complex.
VSU improved to 4-4 overall and 4-1 in Gulf South Conference play with the victory over Montevallo. VSU won the doubles point and then won four of the six matches in singles to claim the victory.
The Blazers had straight-set victories at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 singles, while freshman
Julia Saving and junior
Birte Langenstein won 6-0 at No. 3 doubles. Senior Estee' Widdershoven needed three sets for her victory at No. 1 singles, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
Columbus State enters with a 7-3 record overall and a 3-0 mark in the Peach Belt Conference. The Cougars' setbacks were to West Alabama (5-2), Southwest Baptist (4-3) and West Florida (4-0) – all ranked teams. CSU has a win over No. 16 Midwestern State (Texas), 4-1 and a 5-2 win over No. 13 Wingate. The Cougars are 2-2 against the Gulf South Conference this season.
For the season, CSU is 40-15 in singles and 17-1 in PBC play, while it is 20-9 in doubles and 8-0 in league play. Valentina Abrile is 7-1 overall and 3-0 in league play, playing at multiple positions in singles. She has won seven-straight matches to lead the team. Amanda Citre is 6-1 overall and a 2-0 in league play. She has won six-straight matches. Citre and Luise Sachs are 9-1 in doubles and 3-0 in PBC. They have won nine-straight doubles matches to lead the team.
CSU has won the last six meetings in the series, including a 6-1 decision on Feb. 10, 2019, in Columbus, Ga. Former Blazer Daniella Barta won at No. 2 singles in the match by opponent retirement in the second set.
UWF enters with an 8-3 record overall and a 5-0 mark in the GSC. The Argos are coming off of a 6-1 victory over Delta State and a 4-1 victory over Christian Brothers this past weekend. UWF is 41-18 in singles this season and 26-2 in GSC play, while it has really struggled in doubles, going 6-14 overall and 2-8 in league play.
In singles, Sara Yigin leads the team with an 8-0 record, including 5-0 at No. 4. Berta Bonardi is 8-2 at the top spot in the lineup, while Irene Recuenco is 8-3 and 5-0 in league play. She is 7-3 at the No. 2 position in the lineup. In doubles, Bonardi and Yigin are 7-3 at the top spot and 3-2 in league play. Karolina Silwanowicz and Samantha Echevarria are 5-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
UWF has won the last 14-straight meetings in the series and won 7-0 on Mar. 31, 2019, in Valdosta. VSU played tough, falling 5-4 on Apr. 22, 2017, in the GSC Championship in the last neutral site matchup.
The Blazers are 20-25 in singles this season, but are 18-12 in GSC play. VSU is 13-11 in doubles and 10-5 in league play. Langenstein is 5-3 overall in singles and 4-1 in league play to lead the team. Widdershoven also is 4-1 in league play and 5-2 overall at the top spot in the lineup. In doubles, Langenstein and Saving are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.
The two matches this week conclude the 2021 home slate. VSU travels to Pensacola, Fla., for three matches Apr. 9-11, and then will play a makeup match against Christian Brothers on Apr. 16, in Montgomery, Ala. The Gulf South Conference Championship is set for Apr. 22-24, also in Montgomery.
