JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's tennis team dropped its first match of the season Wednesday afternoon, falling 4-3 in a close decision to in-state rival North Alabama at the JSU Tennis Courts.
 
"It was a tough match," head coach Andres Amores said. "It wasn't the team's best day on the court, but we will regroup and get ready for Mercer."
 
Jacksonville State (6-1) jumped out to an early 1-0 start with the winning of the double points. Harriet Hamilton and Elena Tendero won the first set 6-4, and Malin Buechner and Alba Conejero closed out the point with a 6-3 win at No. 1.
 
Cristina Moll Alles pushed the lead to 2-0 with back-to-back set wins over Megan Humphreys at No. 6 singles, and Buechner made it a 3-1 advantage after JSU suffered a two-set loss in the afternoon's third singles match.
 
Despite the lead, three straight UNA (3-5) wins at No. 5, 1 and 2 singles handed the Gamecocks their first loss in seven matches.
 
Jacksonville State returns to the courts Thursday, March 7 to host Mercer at the JSU Tennis Courts. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
 
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