Delta State University

MONTGOMERY, ALA.-The Delta State University men’s and women’s tennis teams concluded play at the Gulf South Conference Tennis Championships on April 19 at the O’Connor tennis center in Montgomery. Both teams finished the tournament with a 1-1 record. 

The Lady Statesmen (13-3) got things started on Saturday with a 5-0 win over West Alabama before falling 5-3 to eventual runner up West Florida. 

Katharina Nett, and Krystle Ozols won their doubles match 8-5, while the team of Cecile Benzaki, and 
Tatiana Bourchaud won 8-4. In the final match of doubles play Milena Araujo, and Priscila Duarte won 8-5 over West Alabama. Ozols, and Paulina Potapova both won singles matches in decisive fashion. 

Ozols defeated Brittany Williams 6-1, 6-1, while Potapova defeated Amanda Morgan 6-0, 6-0. 

The Lady Statesmen had the early momentum against the Lady Argo’s after winning the opening two doubles matches, but UWF battled back winning five of the next six matches. Nett, and Ozols, and the French connection of Benzaki and Bouchaud both won the opening doubles matches for DSU. 

Cecile Benzaki was the only winner in singles play for DSU defeating Paola Arevaio 6-4, 6-3. 

The Statesmen fell 5-0 to eventual champion Valdosta State, who won the tournament as the third seed from the GSC East Division; however DSU won their consolation match 5-1 over Christian Brothers to improve their overall record to 11-5. 

Goulven Tupin, and Julien Beckensteiner picked up wins in singles play. Tupin defeated Christian Brothers Clifton Gibbs 6-0, 6-0, while Beckensteiner defeated Antony Eddy 6-0,6-2. The doubles teams of Tupin, and Kirill Pervoun, and Beckensteiner along with Thiago Marion each won 8-0 in doubles play in the 5-1 win over CBU. 

Both teams will now await word for the upcoming NCAA South Regional Tournament.