JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Austin Peay State University women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 outing to Jacksonville State, Saturday, in an Ohio Valley Conference-opening match that was closer than the score might indicate.

“I felt like it was a winnable match,” said head coach Ross Brown. “I was disappointed it wasn't closer, but from my perspective, we've got to learn to compete and find a way to get it done when maybe some things aren't going our way. The guys have figured that out, but the women are still learning it.”

The Lady Govs lone singles win on the day came at No. 3, where junior Vanessa Tavares defeated Zoe Bizinos in a lengthy three-setter (6-4, 1-6, 10-8) for her second straight win and team-high tying fifth of the season.

Senior Andra Cornea and junior Ornella Di Salvo pick up Austin Peay's lone doubles victory, defeating Raisa Guasti and Olivia Nguyen (8-5). Despite leading 5-2 in the second set, Cornea dropped the No. 1 match to Guasti 6-1, 7-5, while Di Salvo's five-match win streak came to an end with a 6-4, 7-6 loss to Claudia Marsala at No. 2.

Austin Peay returns to action against a pair of Nashville foes next weekend, traveling to Belmont (10 a.m., March 22) before hosting Tennessee State (10 a.m., March 23).

Singles Results

1.       Raisa Guasti (JSU) def. Andra Cornea (APSU), 7-5, 6-1
2.       Claudia Marsala (JSU) def. Ornella Di Salvo (APSU), 6-4, 7-6
3.       Vanessa Tavares (APSU) def. Zoe Bizinos (JSU), 6-4, 1-6, 10-8
4.       Danielle Kerindi (JSU) def. Jovana Karac (APSU), 6-4, 6-1
5.       Isidora Knezevic (JSU) def. Hannah Tatlock (APSU), 6-0, 6-4
6.       Sadey St. Amant (JSU) def. Isabela Jovanovic (APSU), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles Results

1.       Cornea/Di Salvo (APSU) def. Guasti/Olivia Nguyen (JSU), 8-5
2.       Marsala/Aleksandra Cmiljic (JSU) def. Tatlock/Karac (APSU), 8-3
3.       Bizinos/Kerindi (JSU) def. Tavares/Jovanovic (APSU), 8-6