The fifth-ranked Alabama women’s tennis team overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat Mississippi, 4-3, at the Gillom Sports Center on Friday to open Southeastern Conference play. The Crimson Tide now stands at 9-1 on the season and 1-0 in the league while the Rebels dip to 2-5 overall and 0-1 against conference opponents.
Mississippi led 1-0 following doubles after winning on courts two and three. Alabama’s fourth-ranked duo of Alexa Guarachi and Mary Anne Macfarlane cruised to an 8-3 victory on court one before the Rebels claimed the 8-5 win on court two and 8-4 victory on court three.
Because the match was moved indoors, only three singles matches were able to be played at a time. Mississippi would win all three first sets in tiebreakers and would eventually take the matches on courts one and two for the 3-0 lead. Despite dropping her first set, Maya Jansen would come back to put the Tide on the board with a 6-7,(2), 6-3, 6-4 win on court three. From there, Emily Zabor cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory on court five before Antonia Foehse pulled through with a 6-4, 7-6,(4) win at the four spot, leaving the deciding point on court six. Natalia Maynetto would deliver the clinching victory for Alabama, posting a 6-2, 6-4 win.
The Tide remains on the road for its second match of the weekend when it takes on Mississippi State on Sunday in Starkville, Miss. The match is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT.
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
Tide’s win avoids weekend sweep
Tide drops 1st two conference matches against Rebels, Bulldogs
