UA women's tennis gets big win against Ole Miss

TUSCALOOSA | The Alabama women’s tennis team picked up singles wins from Tiffany Welcher, Paulina Bigos, Meritt Emery and Shelley Godwin to come from behind and defeat Ole Miss 4-3 at the UA Varsity Courts on Sunday.

Alabama had some added support in the stands with the Penn State men’s tennis team on hand to cheer on the Tide. With the win Alabama improves to 5-7 overall and an even 2-2 in conference play.

The Crimson Tide came into singles down 1-0 after losing the doubles point. Ole Miss secured a win at No. 2 singles to extend the lead to 2-0 before Alabama’s Bigos defeated Laura van de Stroet 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3 to put the Tide on the board.

Emery picked up the next of three consecutive victories for the Tide. She beat Preethi Subramanian 6-3, 6-3to knot the score at 2-2.

With the match on the line, freshman Welcher came back after falling in the first set to break Ole Miss’s Nika Koukhartchouk and win the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 from No. 1 singles. Welcher’s win gave the Tide a 3-2 advantage.

Alabama’s Godwin clinched the match for the Tide for the second time this weekend. She scored five unanswered points in the third set tiebreaker to defeat Soledad Podlipnik 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(2) at No. 6.

Alabama returns to action next weekend as it plays host to the University of Houston on the team’s annual alumni weekend.

Singles

1. Tiffany Welcher (UA) d. Nika Koukhartchouk (UM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

2. Karen Nijssen (UM) d. Alice Tunaru (UA) 6-1, 6-1

3. Paulina Bigos (UA) d. Laura van de Stroet (UM) 7-5, 6-2

4. Meritt Emery (UA) d. Preethi Subramanian (UM) 6-3, 6-3

5. Mimi Renaudin (UM) d. Bianca Svensson (UA) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4

6. Shelley Godwin (UA) d. Soledad Podlipnik (UM) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(2)

Doubles

1. Nika Koukhartchouk/Karen Nijssen (UM) d. Andrea Brenes/Paulina Bigos (UA) 9-7

2. Mimi Renaudin/Laura Van de Stroet (UM) d. Alice Tunaru/Bianca Svnesson (UA) 8-2

3. Meritt Emery/Tiffany Welcher (UA) d. Preethi Subramanian/Soleded Podlipnik (UM) 8-3