Championship Central
 
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – No. 4 South Alabama and No. 2 Georgia State captured semifinal wins Saturday afternoon to advance to the women’s championship match at the 2018 Sun Belt Women’s Tennis Championships.

The women's and men's championship matches will be played on the indoor courts from the Peachtree City Tennis Center due to impending weather in the Peachtree City area.

South Alabama was businesslike in its 4-1 semifinal victory over top-seeded Troy, grabbing the doubles point and first two singles wins at the Nos. 1 and No. 6 positions. Jaguar junior Alina Zolotareva clinched the match at No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
 
Georgia State’s match with No. 6 ULM was a unique affair as the Panthers played with only four players. Matches at No. 3 doubles, No. 5 and 6 singles were awarded to the Warhawks by walkover. But that did not deter Georgia State, capturing the doubles point with 6-1 and 6-2 wins. Down 2-1 to start the singles, the Panthers got a 6-1, 6-4 victory by sophomore Damira Muminovic to even the score at 2-2. ULM got the win at No. 1 and Georgia State responded with the win at No. 4 to tie the score again, now at 3-3. The deciding match came down to No. 2 singles and junior Daniela Ramirez. Ramirez forced a third set and gutted out a 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
 
Sunday’s championship match is set for live coverage on ESPN3 and WatchESPN  at 9:00 AM CT/10:00 AM ET with Matt Stewart and Ken Thomas calling the action. Live stats will be available on SunBeltSports.org.
 
Follow the 2018 championships on Twitter (@SunBelt) and Facebook (fb.com/SunBeltConference).
 
2018 SUN BELT TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women’s Semifinals
 
Match 8 - #4 South Alabama 4, #1 Troy 1
Doubles
1. Pasanen, Milka/Palmen, Maxine (USA) def. Ohta, Sanae/Karaky, Nancy (TROY) 6-2
2. Xua, Jiayuan/Herlina, Efriliya (TROY) vs. Stiteler, Alexandria/Fujioka, Yu (USA) 3-4, unfinished
3. Zoltareva, Alina/Kohoutova, Nikola (USA) def. Ju Hsieh, Pei/Csas Blas, Maria (TROY) 6-0
Singles
1. #111 Stiteler, Alexandria (USA) def. Ohta, Sanae (TROY) 6-2, 6-1
2. Zoltareva, Alina (USA) def. Herlina, Efriliya (TROY) 6-4, 6-2
3. Xua, Jiayuan (TROY) vs. Fujioka, Yu (USA) 0-6, 6-3, 1-3, unfinished
4. Karaky, Nancy (TROY) def. Palmen, Maxine (USA) 6-4, 6-2
5. Mihaljevic, Matea (TROY) vs. Pasanen, Milka (USA) 7-6, 1-2, unfinished
6. Kohoutova, Nikola (USA) def. Csas Blas, Maria (TROY) 6-3, 6-3
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,6,4,2)
 
Match 9 – #2 Georgia State 4, #6 ULM 3
Doubles
1. Rehse, Kristin/Vovk, Lara (GSU) def. Andrei, Stefana/Snita, Karolina (ULM) 6-1
2. Muminovic, Damira/Ramirez, Daniela (GSU) def. Grigoriu, Madalina/Koen, Bianca (ULM) 6-2
3. Salerno, Florencia/Silwanowicz, Karolina (ULM) def. GSU, by walkover
Singles
1. Andrei, Stefana (ULM) def. Rehse, Kristin (GSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Ramirez, Daniela (GSU) def. Snita, Karolina (ULM) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. Muminovic, Damira (GSU) def. Silwanowicz, Karolina (ULM) 6-1, 6-4
4. Vovk, Lara (GSU) def. Grigoriu, Madalina (ULM) 7-6 (6-4), 6-4
5. Salerno, Florencia (ULM) def. GSU, by walkover
6. Koen, Bianca (ULM) def. GSU, by walkover
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,6,3,1,4,2)