The 2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tennis Championships opened play on April 12th at the McGhee Tennis Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The first round of play featured four women’s contest and three matches on the men’s side.
Women: Day 1 Recaps
#5 Stillman College def. #4 Clark Atlanta University (5-3)
In first women’s contest of the tournament, the number five seed Lady Tigers of Stillman College (SC) surprised the fourth seed Lady Panthers of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) with a 5-3 win. The Lady Tigers advance to the semifinals on Friday, April 13th at 9 a.m. and will meet the Lady Wildcats of Fort Valley State University.
In doubles play, SC’s Elizabeth Perez and Whitney Horner defeated CAU’s Brionne Bachus and Vanessa Jean-Baptiste 8-5. The SC team of Valentina Kecman and Rosana Mederios defeated Kasey Dawson and Tamra Grigsby 8-3. CAU’s Ivory Conley and Cydney Reid downed Eartha Blount and Jade Thornton 8-6.
In singles play, SC’s Perez defeated Bachus (6-4, 6-0); Horner defeated Conley (6-3, 6-4); and Thornton defeated Grigsby (7-6 (13-11), 6-3). CAU took two of the singles matches as Jean-Baptiste defeated Mederios (7-5, 7-6 (7-0)) and Dawson defeated Kecman (6-0, 6-4).
#3 Tuskegee University def. #6 LeMoyne-Owen College (5-0)
The Tigerettes of Tuskegee University (TU) advanced to the semifinals after a 5-0 win over the Lady Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) in first round play. In doubles action, Shaneka Knight and Jazmine Scott defeated Brooke Pierce and Bianca Henderson 8-0. Sunny Willoughby and Cheryl Dixon combined to defeat Alesha Humphrey and Carla Payne 8-1 and Christa Ratcliffe and Jessica McGee handed Sh-Ker-Yah Carthen and Karen Barr a 9-7 loss.
In singles play, Willoughby defeated Pierce (6-0, 6-1) and Scott beat Henderson (6-2, 6-2).
The Tigerettes will meet Benedict College in the semifinals on Friday, April 13th at 12 noon.
#1 Fort Valley State University def. #8 Lane College (5-0)
In the third women’s contest of the day, the Fort Valley State Lady Wildcats quickly put away the Lane College Lady Dragons, 5-0, to advance to semifinals.
In doubles action, Chade Scott and Yonelle Aromin defeated Kayla Johnson and Shemonya Adkisson, 8-2, while Gabriella Louis and Roberta Robinson defeated Nakeya Thomas and Chelsea Goodlow, taking a 4-0 lead after two forfeitures.
In singles action, Chade Scott defeated Nakeya Thomas (6-0, 6-0) to give Fort Valley State the victory. The Lady Wildcats advance to take on #5 seed Stillman in the semifinals on Friday, April 13th at 9 a.m
#2 Benedict College def. #7 Albany State University (5-1)
The Benedict Lady Tigers defeated the Albany State Lady Rams, 5-1, in the final match of the day at the 2012 SIAC Tennis Championship.
In doubles action, Glory Zhou and Jessica Carswell defeated Brittany White and Reanah Kellogg 8-0 while Darnel Howlett and Keneisha Whittington defeated Jasmine Williams and Jasmine Livingston 8-1, giving Benedict a 2-0 lead. The Lady Rams made it competitive as the team of Crystal Legrand and Ashley Bynum defeated BC’s Chloe Jean-Charles and India Cowell, making it 2-1 heading into singles action.
Benedict took control in singles action as Jean-Charles defeated Legrand (6-1, 6-1), Zhou defeated White (6-0, 6-0), and Carswell defeated Kellogg (6-3, 6-3), securing the victory for the Lady Tigers.
Benedict advances to play #3 seed Tuskegee in the semifinals at 12 noon on Friday, April 13th at Morehouse College.
Men: Day 1 Recaps
#4 Morehouse College def. #5 Tuskegee University (5-3)
In men’s opening round play, the fourth seed Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College (MHC) advanced to the semifinals by defeating the fifth seed Golden Tigers of Tuskegee (TU), 5-3.
In doubles play the Maroon Tigers jumped to an early 2-1 match lead after the doubles team of Michael Cutrer and Michael Thomas defeated Andrew Knight and Arlon Williams 8-3. The MHC duo of Noah Terry and Chris Hawthorne utilized a tie breaker to defeat the TU team of Bobby Smith and Elijah Pugh 9-8 (7-2). The TU dou of David Mohammed and Jarrett Batain defeated Dewayne Dixon and Kahai Hall in a tiebreaker 9-8 (7-2).
In singles MHC won three of the five matches as Cutrer defeated Mohammed (6-0, 6-4); Hall defeated Pugh (6-3, 6-2); and Thomas defeated Smith (6-3, 6-1). TU’s Knight defeated Dixon 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and Williams defeated Hawthorne (6-3, 7-5).
The Maroon Tigers will meet the number one ranked Wildcats of Fort Valley State University in the semifinals on Friday, April 13th at 9 a.m. on the campus of Morehouse College.
#3 Benedict College def. #6 LeMoyne-Owen College (5-0)
After a forefeit by LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) in a doubles and singles match, the Tigers of Benedict College (BC) won the two remaining doubles contests and one singles match to advance to the semifinals on Friday, April 13th at 12 noon against the number two ranked Tigers of Stillman College.
The BC duo of Zibusiso Noimande and Shane Latchman defeated LOC’s Donovan Mullings and Drinkard Timms 9-8 (7-4). Darreus Wheeler and Giovanni Plater defeated Gregory Hill and Ashton Davis 9-8 (7-5).
In singles play, BC’s Wheeler defeated Davis (6-0, 6-0).
#2 Stillman College def. Lane College #7
The Tigers of Stillman College registered a 5-0 win over the Dragons of Lane College to advance to the semifinal round. After a default in doubles and singles, the Tigers needed only two wins in doubles and one in singles to advance. In doubles, the tandem of David Torres and Alekesandar Zobec defeated Ashton Avery and Deshun Boyd 8-0 and Santiago Robles and Jelffrey Farias won 8-0 against Eric Woods and Ashton Patton.
Zobec’s 6-0, 6-0 win over Woods in the singles solidified the Tigers semifinal round appearance against the Tigers of Benedict College on Friday, April 13th at 12 noon on the campus of Morehouse College.