PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – Georgia Southern, James Madison, Marshall and Old Dominion battled through the quarterfinals of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Championship at the Peachtree City Tennis Center. Each team secured a spot in the event’s semifinal round to be contested on Saturday.
Despite another day of a weather influenced schedule, four teams secured their spot in the semifinals. Old Dominion was able to overcome the elements on the indoor court with the 4-0 sweep as Georgia Southern battled off eight match points to overcome a 3-0 deficit and advance.
The first semifinal matchup will feature top-seeded and No. 33 nationally Ranked Old Dominion against fourth-seeded Georgia Southern at 10 a.m. EST. Second-seeded James Madison will face the sixth-seeded Marshall also at 2 p.m. EST. The matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Match 7: (4) Georgia Southern 4, (5) App State 3
Box Score
Fourth-seeded Georgia Southern came from behind to win 4-3 over fifth-seeded App State.
App State (13-8) started the match ahead 1-0 with the doubles point. Dada-Mascoll and Murphy won 6-3 on court one, before Jansen and Dodridge secured the point on court two 6-4.
The Mountaineers added to their advantage on court four as Dodridge won via retirement and Ryan-Bovey won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to lead 3-0
Georgia Southern (19-5) fended off eight match points on court five as freshman Martinache extended the match to allow her teammates to score. Kijima used the momentum on court three to win 7-5, 6-3 as Second Team All-Conference member Tsitavets rallied in the third set to win 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. First Team All-Conference member Martinez tied the match on court one despite losing the first set to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Martinache forced a third set winning the tiebreak 7-6 (7-4) and finished the match in 6-0 fashion in the final set to give the Eagles the victory. The 19 wins also ties a program record for Georgia Southern as they advanced to the semifinals.
Match 8: (1) Old Dominion 4, (9) Texas State 0
Box Score
Top-seeded Old Dominion defeated ninth-seeded Texas State 4-0 on the indoor courts due to rain. The matchup featured all six singles courts to decide the team points.
Texas State won a set in the singles matches and finishes the season 8-15.
Old Dominion (16-4) won the match on the singles courts to advance to the semifinals. Isaacs earned the first team point on court six (6-3, 6-1) as Biran finished just behind her on court three (6-2, 6-2). Johnson put the Monarchs ahead 3-0 with the win on court two (6-3, 6-3) as Viktorovich sealed the victory on court five (6-2, 6-3).
The 2023 Regular Season Champions will face Georgia Southern in the first semifinal matchup.
Match 9: (6) Marshall 4, (3) Coastal Carolina 1
Box Score
Sixth-seeded Marshall used the momentum from the doubles court to defeat third-seeded Coastal Carolina 4-1 in the third match of the day.
Coastal Carolina (17-8) was able to earn a singles point on court three that briefly tied the match at one as Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year Burger won 6-2, 6-3 on court three.
Marshall (16-8) won the doubles point in 6-0 and 6-2 fashion as the pair of All-Conference doubles teams shined. First Team All-Conference pair Vanderheyden and Strom won first on court one as the Second Team All-Conference duo of S. Hurrion and McGrane followed on court two.
The Herd regained the lead on court four as McGrane responded in the third set to win 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Hurrion put Marshall one point away with a comeback win despite losing the first set 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 on court six. Lopicic won the tiebreak in set one 7-5 and secured the semifinal matchup with a 6-4 win in set two on court five.
Match 10: (2) James Madison 4, (7) South Alabama 1
Box Score
Second-seeded James Madison defeated seventh-seeded South Alabama 4-1 in the final match of the day to advance to the semifinals.
South Alabama (18-6) tied the match at one on court five as Doha Zeghlouli won her match 6-1, 6-0. The Jaguars won three of the six first sets in singles.
James Madison (14-7) took the early lead in doubles despite losing on court one to start. The duo of Afanasyeva and Matko won on court three 6-4 to give each team a doubles win. Munteanu and Voloh secured the team point on court two 6-3.
The Dukes answered the call with three straight singles wins after the match was tied to advance to the semifinals. Second Team All-Conference member Voloh won her match on court three, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2) as First Team All-Conference member Moulin responded in the final two sets to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Leading 3-1, Munteanu secured the victory on court four in comeback fashion as well 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.