NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers women's tennis team (12-2, 10-1) earned a share of the Southland regular season championship after a 5-2 win over the Lamar Cardinals (8-7, 5-5) on Sunday at the University Tennis Center.
The Privateers will enter the Southland tournament as the 2-seed after finishing conference play on a five-match winning streak.
It's the highest seed the Privateers have earned and their first regular season championship since joining the Southland.
PRIVATEERS RALLY IN SINGLES
Lamar took the opening point with doubles wins at flight one and two which propelled them to start the day. However, the Privateers stormed back in singles play.
It started with
Salma Abdelrahim who notched her ninth conference win. Abdelrahim won in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to get New Orleans on the board.
Estelle Vanthier followed closely behind with a resolute performance in a 6-1, 6-2 victory to put the Privateers in front.
After Lamar battled back to tie the match at 2-2, the Privateers asserted themselves in the final three matches to finish.
Lina Hohnhold put a bow on a 10-1 Southland mark with her 6-4, 6-3 victory at flight two. Seven of those wins have come in straight sets.
Lea Alguacil provided the clinching point at flight six. After outlasting her opponent with a late service break in the opening set, Alguacil held on solidly in the second for a 7-5, 6-3 victory.
With the match in hand,
Ank Vullings played to the finish in a three-set thriller against Bianca Vitale. After losing the first set, Vullings dominated the second and took the third by a single break.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will face Southern Miss on Saturday, Apr. 17 at the University Tennis Center. There will be a Senior Day ceremony before the match begins at 2 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersTN on Twitter,
@PrivateersTN on Instagram, like
Privateers Tennis on Facebook and subscribe to the
UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.
