Women’s Tennis Defeats Mercer in Home Opener 5-2

Wednesday, February 10

Birmingham, Ala.

12:00 PM

UAB

Mercer

Women’s Tennis Defeats Mercer in Home Opener 5-2

2/10/2021 5:43:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – On a beautiful day where temperatures reached 70 degrees, the UAB women's tennis team defeated Mercer 5-2 in their 2021 spring home opener at George Ward Park.

With the victory, the Blazers (1-3) extend their home winning streak to 10 matches dating back to April 6, 2019.

In doubles, UAB got on the board early as Annalisa Smith and Jana Hecking made quick work of Kristin Yordanova and Ashley Popham on Court 3 by a score of 6-0. On Court 1, Adela Wasserbauerova and Dominika Hrabalova were 6-4 winners. Megan Bertrands and Sydney Clarke battled Alara Hollyfield and Lekha Varudandi on Court 2, but fell in a tiebreaker 7-6.

UAB won four of the six singles matches, picking up wins on Courts 2, 3, 5 and 6. Wasserbauerova defeated Hollyfield 7-6, 6-2 on Court 2. Bertrands was a 6-4, 6-0 winner on Court 3. Clarke and Varudandi split the first two sets (3-6, 6-4) before Clarke won the third 10-4 on Court 5. Smith was a straight sets winner on Court 6 6-0, 6-1.

"It feels good to get in the win column," said head coach Mark Tjia. "We have played a very tough schedule to date which helped us prepare for this feisty Mercer team. I thought we showed improvement in our doubles and we did a good job of trusting ourselves in the pressure moments."

UAB began the 2021 season by playing three straight Power 5 teams in Alabama, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State.

The Blazers return to courts on Feb. 14 versus Alabama A&M. The match, originally to be played at George Ward Park, has been moved to Athletic Club Alabama in Huntsville because of the cold weather forecast.

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