Women’s tennis season draws to a close

Troy Athletics photo

Gabrielle Leslie and Emilia Namyslo celebrate after winning a point.

The Troy women’s tennis team notched two wins at the end of season Sun Belt Conference Tournament before being knocked out in the semifinals by sixth-seeded Marshall.

The Trojans began the tournament against 10th seeded Coastal Carolina and grinded out a 4-2 victory.

After Troy secured the doubles point through two tightly contested matches, Coastal Carolina answered with a swift victory on court one to even the score.

Maria Guirguis retook the lead for the Trojans at line two in straight sets for her 13th match victory of the season.

The Chanticleers would not go down without a fight, as they knotted things up again at 2-2.

Leena Metwally battled back after dropping the first set to regain the lead 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Hagar Ramadan-Amin came in clutch and clinched the match for the Trojans with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory at line five.

The final match went unfinished as the Trojans advanced to the quarterfinals against second-seeded Appalachian State.

Troy was ousted last year in the semifinals by App State and were definite underdogs in this year’s rematch.

The Trojans jumped out to an early lead, as the pairing of Guirguis and Valeriia Avdeeva clinched the doubles point for the Trojans with their line one win in doubles.

Metwally extended the lead to 2-0 as she cruised to a straight set win on court four with a score of 6-3, 6-2.

Avdeeva put the match in clinching position, as she claimed her team-leading 16th win of the season.

The Mountaineers rallied back with three consecutive singles victories to tie up the match at 3-3.

Ramadan-Amin delivered the semifinal berth to the Trojans as she overcame a poor first set to triumph 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Troy’s excellent showing in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament came to a close as sixth-seeded Marshall rolled past the Trojans by a score of 4-1.

Guirguis was the lone Trojan to record a win as she defeated Marshall’s Emma Vanderheyden in a three-setter.

Guirguis finished the year with 14 wins while Avdeeva led the team with 16.

Avdeeva and Guirguis were both selected to the Sun Belt All-Conference Singles Second Team for their outstanding play over the season.

Old Dominion has won three consecutive Sun Belt titles and will represent the Sun Belt in the NCAA Tournament.