SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Dariana Prato scored a singles win and two doubles pairs added two-on-two victories over the weekend at the Wofford Invite for Gamecock women's tennis. Those results conclude a successful first Fall under head coach Michael Helms for Jacksonville State's women's program.
 
"The real winner at Wofford was the weather," Helms said after the event. "Rain slammed us for three days straight and the girls had to fight through tons of delays. It wasn't the most productive weekend, but not all was lost as Coach Hall of Wofford did a phenomenal job maneuvering all the teams through the adversity so we could get in a few matches.
 
"It was an okay weekend from a playing standpoint," Helms said. "I would've liked to have seen some better tennis, but you have those weekends. You learn from it and move forward."
 
Doubles play opened on Friday in upstate South Carolina before inclement weather moved into the area later in the day. The tandem of Martina Zarza and Prato dominated opponents from Gardner-Webb, posting a 6-0 triumph in their first action of the weekend. Irene Artigas and Serafima Shastova competed well against a duo from UNC Asheville but fell just short, 6-4. Artigas and Shastova were able to avenge their doubles loss on Saturday, however, as they beat a team from Gardner-Webb, 6-2, in Spartanburg.
 
Prato, a senior from San Antoniodel Tachira, Venezuela, tallied Jax State's only singles win of the weekend on Sunday morning. The veteran Gamecock beat Gardner-Webb's Emilia Roslund, 6-4, 7-5, in the Wofford Draw before rain washed out the rest of the event.
 
"We've come a long way since I accepted the job in July," Helms said. "Facility improvements have been made and continue to take place. The players have put in a ton of work, embracing the new standards and processes we've put in place. I'm truly excited about our future at Jax State."
 
With the Wofford Invite put behind them, Jacksonville State women's tennis is undergoing a training block throughout the Fall semester leading up to their first regular season contest in mid-January. Their Spring campaign will mark the program's first under Helms, as well as its first as a member of Conference USA.
 
"Our team goals are simple," Helms added. "A few players need to get healthy and stay healthy while others need to stay hungry and keep working. With fewer hours to train and players going home for the holidays it's not an ideal situation for a coach. The next 50 days will be vital to our Spring season. You just have to hope the girls stay disciplined and striving for excellence when no one else is watching."
 
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