LYNCHBURG, Va. – A massive comeback by Liberty handed Jacksonville State women's tennis their first conference setback of the 2023 campaign. The Gamecocks led 3-0 early on, but four consecutive singles triumphs netted a miraculous triumph for the Flames. 
 
Jax State (14-4, 4-1) tallied a slim doubles point at the Liberty Tennis Complex. After a decisive win on court three for LU (12-6, 3-1), Zuzana Pavelekova and Anna Syrova claimed a 6-4 decision in the no. 2 doubles flight to even the score. In the point-deciding showdown on court one, Gamecocks Romane Mosse and Serafima Shastova outlasted Liberty's Maria Juliana Parra Romero and Tiffany Nguyen, 7-6 (7-4), to help their squad to an early lead.
 
Back-to-back individual triumphs in the fifth and sixth flights extended Jacksonville State's advantage. Dariana Prato posted a 6-1, 6-1, result on court five and Pavelekova won her test 6-3, 6-1, to push Jax State's lead to 3-0. 
 
Unfortunately, the hometown Flames mounted an impressive comeback with four singles wins to clinch the match. Two of those Liberty victories came in three sets. Polina Ramenskaja led early, but eventually succumbed to a 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 2-6, fate in the no. 4 singles flight. In the winner-take-all pairing on court one, Shastova narrowly lost to Parra Romero, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, to drop Sunday's match in Virginia. 
 
With another doubles win, Syrova marked her team-leading 17^th two-on-two victory of 2023. In addition, Pavelekova now sits atop the Gamecock program with 13 singles triumphs on the Spring. The sophomore from Slovakia is 13-2 and has won her last six contests.
 
The Gamecocks return to play Wednesday at UAB. That in-state non-conference match will begin at 1 p.m. in Birmingham. Jacksonville State will resume ASUN play next weekend at home, as they host North Florida and Kennesaw State on Friday and Sunday mornings respectively. Links to follow along with live stats for each of this week's matches will be provided at JSUGamecockSports.com. 
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Twitter (@JaxStateTN), Instagram (@JaxStateWTennis), and Facebook (Jacksonville State University Tennis) accounts. 
 
Tennis Match Results
JSU vs LU
3/26/2023 at Lynchburg, Va.
LU 4, JSU 3
 
Singles Competition
 

1. Maria Juliana Parra Romero (LU) def. Serafima Shastova (JSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Esther Lovato (LU) def. Romane Mosse (JSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Marina Davtyan (LU) def. Anna Syrova (JSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Tiffany Nguyen (LU) def. Polina Ramenskaja (JSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
5. Dariana Prato (JSU) def. Elsa Kirch (LU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Zuzana Pavelekova (JSU) def. Maretha Burger (LU) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Competition
 

1. Romane Mosse/Serafima Shastova (JSU) def. Tiffany Nguyen/Maria Juliana Parra Romero (LU) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Zuzana Pavelekova/Anna Syrova (JSU) def. Maretha Burger/Bruna Sampaio (LU) 6-4
3. Marina Davtyan/Esther Lovato (LU) def. Irene Artigas/Polina Ramenskaja (JSU) 6-1