NEW ORLEANS – Alcorn State captured the programs’ fourth SWAC Women’s Tennis Championship with a 4-2 victory over Jackson State on Sunday, April 17 at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center. This is the Braves’ first title since the 2008 season.
Jackson State clinched the doubles point with Bright Phakamad and Karina Ono defeated Aida Kelic and Ivana Boberic, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles. The Tigers’ Julia Angermann and Anastasia Zviahintseva won at No. 1 position 6-2 over Ekaterina Potapova and Sibohan Ryan-Bovey.
Alcorn State’s duo of Aakanksha Punj and Marlene Maier defeated Daria Butorino and Rebekah Adewumi, 6-4, at No. 3 doubles.
Jackson State went up 2-0 with Phakamad defeating Klavdija Bukovic, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 4 singles.
Alcorn State came back to capture four-straight battles in the other singles matches. Kelic collected a 6-2, 6-2, win over Angermann at No. 1 singles while Boberic won 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 at No. 2 singles over Daria Boberic.
At No. 5 singles, Potapova defeated Akshantha Ananth, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, while Maier bested Ono at the No. 6 match, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Alcorn State’s Marlene Maier was named Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Braves’ head Coach Anthony Dodgen was named SWAC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year.
Both Jackson State and Alcorn State had three players named to the SWAC All-Tournament team. Southern also had two honorees on the All-Tournament Team.
2016 SWAC All-Tournament Team
Anastasia Zviahintseva, Jackson State
Bright Phakamad, Jackson State
Karina Ono, Jackson State
Ivana Boberic, Alcorn State
Ekaterina Potapova, Alcorn State
Marlene Maier, Alcorn State
Amanda Materre, Southern
Rufaro Chirewa, Southern
Tournament MVP: Marlene Maier, Alcorn State
Coach of the Year: Anthony Dodgen, Alcorn State
