PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Down 3-1 and on the brink of losing the title, Georgia Southern won the final three matches of the day to win the 2021 Sun Belt Women's Tennis title over top-seeded South Alabama. The championship is Georgia Southern’s first in program history and its first ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Eagles claimed the doubles point in the championship match, which proved to be vital at the end of the match. Sonja Keranen and Elizabeth Goines picked up a 6-3 win in No. 3 doubles. Charlotte van Diemen and Sophie Wagemaker rallied from a 5-4 deficit to win 7-5 in the No. 1 doubles match over Cami Moreno and Yurie Takanishi.

The Jaguars took control early in the singles match, jumping to a 3-1 lead, but the Eagles rallied to win three straight contests in No. 2, No. 4, and No. 6 singles.

"It's good to see the team experience this, with so many fans and former players from both the men's and women's teams at Georgia Southern. It was great to share that experience with them," Coach McCaffrey said about the Championship. "In just four seasons, the women have done an amazing job. I'm proud of the team and proud to be a part of Georgia Southern."

The Division I Women's Tennis Spring Selection Show will take place on Monday, May 3, at 6 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.

2021 SUN BELT WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
FINALS

Match 10 – Georgia Southern 4, South Alabama 3
Doubles

1. Diemen, Charlotte van/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Moreno, Cami/Takanishi, Yurie (USA) 7-5
2. Kohoutova, Nikola/Fujioka, Yu (USA) def. Nadja Meier/Boixader, Paula (GS) 6-1 
3. Goines, Elizabeth/Sonja Keranen (GS) def. Otoha, Aoki/Bernabeu, Aina (USA) 6-3

Singles

1. Fujioka, Yu (USA) def. Meier, Nadja (GS) 6-4, 6-3 
2. Boixader, Paula(GS) def. Kohoutova, Nikola (USA) 6-7 (9-11), 6-4, 6-3 
3. Moreno, Cami (USA) def. Wagemaker, Sophie (GS) 6-1, 6-4
4. Hartig, Mila (GS) def. Pasanen, Milka (USA) 6-2, 7-5 
5. Otoha, Aoki (USA) def. Hijos, Paula(GS) 6-3, 6-3 
6. Goines, Elizabeth  (GS) def. Monsalve, Diana (USA) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2