Match 13
Score: NJIT 5, Kennesaw State 2 | Box Score
Records: Kennesaw State (5-8, 1-1), NJIT (5-7, 2-0)
Up Next: Tuesday, March 28 vs. Akron, 5 p.m.

NEWARK, N.J. – The Kennesaw State women's tennis team dropped a hard-fought ASUN Conference match at NJIT, 5-2, Saturday in Newark, N.J. at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.
 
Junior Alexandra Mercado and freshman Aspen Jarrett were victorious in their singles matches to provide the two points for the Owls, but it wasn't enough against the Highlanders.
 
NJIT (5-7, 2-0) remained unbeaten in conference play by winning the doubles point, and claiming the first three singles matches at Nos. 3, 4, and 5 to clinch the victory. The Owls (5-8, 1-1) had their three-match winning streak snapped.
 
"Today, we came up a little short," said Assistant Head Coach Miranda Foley. "Doubles was tight but they pulled away when they needed to. We knew it would come down to some tough matches in singles. Ale (Mercado) kept her individual win count moving in the right direction while Cristina (Perez-Martin) battled extremely hard in tough circumstances but couldn't quite sustain the tennis she needed to succeed. I was proud of the way we finished."
 
At No. 1 singles, Mercado pulled out a back-and-fourth three-setter over Rafaella Sampaio, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6, for her fourth straight singles victory. The junior is a team-best 9-4 in singles play this spring.
 
Jarrett won her match at No. 6 over Amanda Helminsky, 8-6, for her third singles win in the last four matches.
 
The Owls return to action Tuesday, hosting Akron at the Betty Siegel Courts. First serve is set for 5 p.m. at the Betty Siegel Courts.
 
Singles
1. Alexandra Mercado (KSU) def. Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT) 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Mayar Eltony (NJIT) def. Cristina Perez-Martin (KSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
3. Natacha Minc (NJIT) def. Laura Hopton (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Nathalie Habegger (NJIT) def. Kennedy Craig (KSU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Alba Rosas Garcia (NJIT) def. Jessica Cantrell (KSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Aspen Jarrett (KSU) def. Amanda Helminsky (NJIT) 8-6
 
Doubles
1. Rafaella Sampaio/Mayar Eltony (NJIT) def. Cristina PerezMartin/Laura Hopton (KSU) 6-3
2. Nathalie Habegger/Alba Rosas Garcia (NJIT) vs. Alexandra Mercado/Elle Baker (KSU) 6-6, unfinished
3. Amanda Helminsky/Natacha Minc (NJIT) def. Jessica Cantrell/Kennedy Craig (KSU) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,4,5,2,1,6)
 
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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