Lady Tigers Snatch First OVC Win in Tennis, Edge Southern Indiana 4 - 3

Photo / TSU Athletics

EVANSVILLE, IN — The Tennessee State women’s tennis team picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season Friday afternoon, edging Southern Indiana 4-3 in a tightly contested matchup at Evansville.

TSU grabbed the early advantage by taking the doubles point. Natalie Walsh and Julie Tungamarial set the tone with a 6-0 rout at No. 2 doubles, while Aroa Arrieta Castillo and Jovana Nikolic closed out doubles with a 6-2 win at No. 3. Southern Indiana claimed the No. 1 doubles flight, but the Tigers’ wins at Nos. 2 and 3 gave them the 1-0 team lead heading into singles.

Singles play produced momentum swings, but the Tigers were able to hold firm when it mattered. Jovana Nikolic dominated at the top flight, posting a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 1 singles to spark TSU. Southern Indiana fought back with wins at Nos. 5 and 2 to tighten the match, but Arrieta Castillo answered at No. 3 with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory. Taylor Ellis then closed the match out at No. 6, delivering a 7-6, 6-1 clincher to secure the 4-3 team win.

The victory was an important breakthrough for the Tigers, who improved to 1-3 in conference play and 1-12 overall. The team’s doubles strength and clutch singles performances — notably Nikolic’s dominant start and Ellis’s closing effort — were the difference in a match that came down to the final court.

Tennessee State returns home Sunday to host Southeast Missouri State in Nashville at 2 p.m., looking to build on the momentum from its first conference triumph of the season.