RICHMOND, Ky. – Jacksonville State women's tennis stayed the course in Friday's match at Eastern Kentucky. The Gamecocks kept fighting to the finish in an all-out battle with the Colonels, claiming a pair of three-set triumphs in singles play to secure their first win of 2024.
"It is certainly nice to get the win, but more importantly I am proud of the way we fought today,"
Michael Helms, who scored his first head coaching victory, said after the match. "I have challenged the girls this week to be a little tougher and fight a little harder. Our intensity level just hasn't been where it needs to be, but I saw that change a bit today."
Jax State (1-2) took a competitive doubles point in the Bluegrass State, marking the third time in three matches that the squad has pulled it out in two-on-two action. After a 6-3 win in No. 2 doubles by
Zuzana Pavelekova and
Anna Syrova, the tandem of
Irene Artigas and
Dariana Prato clinched the point on court three via a 6-2 decision.
The former ASUN Conference foes both threw haymakers in singles.
Polina Ramenskaja survived a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, brawl on court two and
Serafima Shastova came from behind in the top flight to shock Masha Fedenko of EKU (1-1) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, but the Colonels responded with a pair of wins of their own to tighten things up.
Zuzana Pavelekova was the hero for the Red-and-White, however, as the junior from Slovakia tallied a 6-4, 6-4, result in the final showdown to put the lid on a 4-2 win.
"Their focus and attention to detail today was as professional as I have seen," Helms added. "We have some things to clean up and we'll go do that this week in preparation for our upcoming matches."
The Gamecocks continue play on Tues., Jan. 30, in a road match at UAB. First serve in Birmingham is set for 1 p.m. The 2024 home opener at the Jax State Tennis Courts will follow on Fri., Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. against Alabama A&M.
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jax State Women's Tennis), Instagram (@JaxStateWTEN), and X (@JaxStateWTEN) accounts.
