Lady Eagles outlast Gamecocks

The Southern Miss women's tennis team held off the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at the USM tennis courts. The win by the Lady Eagles evened their record at 1-1 on the season.

Starting in the doubles action, the Lady Eagles were down early in the match. USM's No. 1 doubles team of Frances Askew and Alexus Coats fell behind 5-2 early before they were unable to finish the match. With Askew and Coats falling to Jacksonville State, USM needed to win the remaining doubles matches to gain the point for doubles.

Golden Eagle's No. 2 team of Alex Bradley and Kate Lanier won their match 8-3 to even the doubles action. To finish up doubles play, Moorea Williams and Mackenzie Oskin won 8-3 against the No. 3 doubles team for Jacksonville State, allowing USM to take the point for doubles action.

Jacksonville State wasted no time tying the match at 1-1 at the start of singles play when Askew was again forced to retire after falling behind 5-2 early. Southern Miss then jumped back into the lead after a win in No. 2 singles with Lanier winning her match 6-3, 6-2.

Jacksonville State then pushed the match to a 2-2 tie when they took the No. 4 singles match over Williams, 6-3, 6-4. Southern Miss's No. 1 Elja van Berlo then topped the Gamecock's, 6-3, 6-3, to take back the lead at 3-2. Bradley then clinched the match by winning No. 5 singles 6-3, 7-5.

Oskin then fell in No. 3 singles in a third set tie-break, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7-4).

"I was proud of our positive demeanor and solid starts in doubles and singles today," coach Raynie Theis said.

The Lady Eagles tennis team also took on Arkansas-Little Rock Monday. Their next match is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 12:00 p.m. at the USM tennis courts.