Match 12
Score: Kennesaw State 5, USC Upstate 2 | Box Score
Records: Kennesaw State (5-7, 1-0), Upstate (2-14, 0-1)
Up Next: Saturday, March 25 at NJIT, 10 a.m.

KENNESAW, Ga. – Sophomore Jessica Cantrell was unbeaten on the afternoon and her singles victory clinched the match for the Kennesaw State women's tennis team, which opened ASUN play with a 5-2 win over USC Upstate Wednesday afternoon at home.
 
The Owls (5-7, 1-0) have now won three straight matches and four of their last five. The Spartans slipped to 2-14, 0-1. It is the seventh consecutive year that KSU has knocked off Upstate.
 
Cantrell teamed with classmate Jada Tijani for a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles, and the sophomore from Powder Springs, Ga., won her match at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-4, over Eduarda Ferreira to clinch the team win for Kennesaw State. Cantrell has won four straight doubles matches.
 
"Today was another great team win," said Assistant Head Coach Miranda Foley. "We were riding high on some confidence, which always helps. We knew coming into the match, it was going to be a close one, but it feels great to get that first win in conference play. Singles 3 and 4 were big for us today. Jess (Cantrell) really stepped up to the occasion, and it was big for Laura (Hopton) to get that singles win relatively quickly. We're playing some good tennis and we're sticking to the process."

The Owls took the doubles point when Alexandra Mercado and Elle Baker finished off a 6-2 win at No. 2. Momentum stayed on the home side when Laura Hopton won her singles match at No. 3, 6-4, 6-1, expanding the lead to 2-0.
 
Upstate cut into the margin with a win at No. 2, but KSU closed out the match thanks to wins from Mercado at No. 1 (6-3, 6-4), Cantrell, and Jarrett at No. 5 (6-2, 4-6, 10-8). Mercado is 8-4 in singles play this spring, and the junior has won three straight and seven of her last nine.
 
The Owls hit the road Saturday with a conference match at NJIT. First serve is set for 10 a.m. in Newark, N.J.
 
Singles
1. Alexandra Mercado (KSU) def. Filippa Ericson (UPST) 6-3, 6-4
2. Carol Sigaki (UPST) def. Cristina Perez-Martin (KSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Laura Hopton (KSU) def. Vale Zarama (UPST) 6-4, 6-1
4. Jessica Cantrell (KSU) def. Eduarda Ferreira (UPST) 6-4, 6-4
5. Aspen Jarrett (KSU) def. Taylor Dodd (UPST) 6-2, 4-6, 10-8
6. Morgan Dodd (UPST) def. Jada Tijani (KSU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Cristina Perez-Martin/Laura Hopton (KSU) vs. Carol Sigaki/Vale Zarama (UPST) 4-1, unfinished
2. Alexandra Mercado/Elle Baker (KSU) def. Filippa Ericson/Taylor Dodd (UPST) 6-2
3. Jessica Cantrell/Jada Tijani (KSU) def. Morgan Dodd/Anna Nemeth (UPST) 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,2,1,4,6,5)
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's tennis news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUWomensTennis or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.

-#GoKSUOwls-
 

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