JACKSONVILLE – Sae Kaneko clinched a hard-fought 4-3 win for Jax State women's tennis at home against No. 58 ranked South Alabama Saturday. The Gamecocks improved to 11-5 on the season and 5-3 at home with the win against one of their in-state rivals.
 
Jax State opened the day by taking the douibles point. Irene Artigas and Kaneko teamed up for a 6-0 triumph over South Alabama's Jade Marie and Cristina Tchanichev on doubles court three. Then on court two, Rio Maeda and Jana Rovira beat Emma Montagner and Alba Roche 6-2.
 
Aneka Patel and Polina Ramenskaja clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Kenza Elakili and Manal Ennaciri on court one.
 
In singles play, Tchanichev tied the match at 1-1 with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Jax State's Isabella Sambola on court three. Artigas put the Gamecocks back ahead 2-1 with a 6-1, 6-2 straight-set triumph over Rovira on singles court four. Ramenskaja was then defeated by Maeda 7-5, 6-3 on court one to even the match again.
 
Patel won in three sets against Ennaciri on court two after dropping the first set 6-0. In the second set, Patel won in tiebreakers 7-6. Patel took the decisive third set 6-1 to make it 3-2 Jax State. On court five, Montagner was beaten 6-3 in the first set by Marie. Montagner took the second set 7-5 before Marie answered with a 6-4 third set win to even the match at 3-3.
 
Kaneko won the first set of her singles match against Elakili on court six 6-2. Elakili took the second 6-4 to force a third set. Kaneko clinched the win for Jax State thanks to a 6-2 final in the third.
 
Jax State will host Western Kentucky Friday, March 27, for a 1 p.m. first-serve at the Jax State Tennis Courts.
 
To follow the Gamecocks on the road this season, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Women's Tennis), Instagram (@JaxStateWTEN), and X (@JaxStateWTEN) accounts.