ATLANTA--Day two of the 2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tennis Championships featured all semifinal match-ups for both the women and men.
Women’s Semifinal 1:
#1 Fort Valley State University def. #5 Stillman College (5-4)
In first women’s semifinal contest, the number one seed Lady Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) got more than they bargained for in their encounter with the five seed Lady Tigers of Stillman College (SC). The surprisingly close 5-4 score was completely indicative of the intensity of the match. Trailing 2-1 after the doubles matches, the Lady Wildcats rallied in singles play by claiming four of six matches to advance to Saturday’s (April 14th) championship at 12 noon.
In doubles play, SC’s Elizabeth Perez and Whitney Horner defeated FVSU’s Chade’ Scott and Yonelle Aromin 8-6. FVSU took the second doubles match as Gabriella Louis and Roberta Robinson beat Valentina Kecman and Rosana Mederios 8-3. In the final doubles match, Eartha Blount and Jade Thornton downed FVSU’s LaTesha Taylor and Markeisha Washington 8-4.
In singles, SC got its two wins when Perez defeated Robinson (6-1, 6-0) and Blount beat Washington (6-1, 6-0). FVSU reeled off its four wins in the singles when Louis defeated Mederios (6-2, 6-4); Scott edged Horner (2-6, 7-5, 6-2); Aromin defeated Kecman (6-0, 6-1); and Taylor beat Thornton (6-2, 6-4).
Women’s Semifinal 2:
#3 Tuskegee University def. #2 Benedict College (5-0)
In the second semifinal game, the third-seeded Tigerettes of Tuskegee University stunned the No. 2 seed Benedict College Lady Tigers Friday at the Morehouse Tennis Center to advance to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship match.
The Tigerettes wasted no time as they cruised to a 5-0 victory winning all three doubles matches as Shaneka Knight and Jazmine Scott defeated Glory Zhou and Jessica Carswell 8-4, Sunny Willoughby and Cheryl Dixon defeated Chloe Jean-Charles and India Cowell 8-3 while Christa Ratcliff and Jessica McGee defeated Darnel Howlett and Keneisha Whittington 9-7.
In singles action, Knight defeated Jean-Charles (6-2, 6-1) in the No. 1 position while Scott defeated Carswell (6-1, 6-3) at the No. 3 position. Tuskegee will face No. 1 Fort Valley State at 12 p.m., in the championship match.
Men’s Semifinal 1:
#1 Fort Valley State University def. #4 Morehouse College (5-2)
The number one seed Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Wildcats dispatched the Morehouse College (MHC) Maroon Tigers from tournament play and earned a berth into the championship game on Saturday, April 14th at 12 noon with a 5-2 semifinal win.
The Wildcats doubles team of Terrance Jenkins and Brandon Pringle defeated Dewayne Dixon and Kahai Hall 8-3. After Morehouse’ Michael Cutrer and Michael Thomas beat Kelvin Oliver and Joshua Turner 8-2, the Wildcats took the final doubles match as Nick Hernandez and Dwayne White outdueled Noah Terry and Chris Hawthorne 8-3.
In singles, the Wildcats sprinted to championship round after wins by Jenkins over Cutrer (6-4, 6-3); White over Dixon (6-1, 3-6, 6-0); and Hernandez over Thomas (6-2, 6-3) MHC won its lone singles match as Hall defeated Turner (6-3, 6-7, 7-5).
The Wildcats will meet the Tigers of Stillman College in the championship match on Saturday at 12 noon.
Men’s Semifinal 2:
#2 Stillman College defeated #3 Benedict College (5-2)
It was a battle of the Tigers in the final semifinal match of the day as #2 seed Stillman College defeated #3 seed Benedict College, 5-2, to advance to the Championship match of the 2012 SIAC Men’s Tennis Championship.
In doubles action, Stillman swept Benedict, 3-0, as David Torres and Aleksandar Zobec defeated Zibusiso Ndimande and Shane Latchman 8-4, Santiago Robles and Jelffrey Farias defeated Darreus Wheeler and Giovanni Plater 8-1, and Felipe Farias and Jose Pojasi defeated Timothy Thorton and Devongelo Crawford 8-4.
In singles action, Zibusiso defeated Torres (6-1, 2-6, 6-1) and Latchman defeated Robles (2-6, 6-0, 6-4), making it 3-2. Stillman will close in on the victory as Zobec defeated Plater (6-2, 6-0) and F.Farias defeated Thorton (6-1, 6-0).
Stillman advances to face #1 seed Fort Valley State at 12 noon with the SIAC Championship on the line.