Southern snaps SWAC Championship streak Alcorn claims top spot

For the first time in seven years, the Southern University women’s tennis team failed to capture their seventh championship ring during the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship tournament weekend on April 15-17, 2016.
The defending champions have now become fighters.
Since the inception of the championship circle in 1988, Southern has won 12 championships, more than any team in the SWAC than almost three times.
Before 2010, it was volley on which team would capture the title but Southern soon began to sweep the series gallantly.
As unnatural as this event is for Southern, Alcorn captured the SWAC title after toppling Southern 4-2 on April 16 then going on to send Jackson State to the same demise on the following day.
The last time Alcorn State raised that championship banner was in 2008.
Southern’s first opponent in the quarterfinals match was Prairie View A&M in which the Lady Panthers became the first victims for the Lady Jaguars when losing 4-1.
The Jaguars picked up the doubles point with wins by Laura Syori and Amanda Materre at No. 2 doubles 6-0 over the Panthers’ Trinity Randolph and Timara Maxwell. Southern also won at No. 3 doubles with a 6-1 victory by D’Jeri Raymond and Mia Kent over Shaddae Findley and Tatiana Ruhl.
In singles action, Prairie View’s Staccy Lackey won 6-3, 6-2 over Mia Kent at No. 5 position. Southern’s Darnesha Moore defeated Sydney Thomas, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 2 singles while Amanda Materre defeated Trinity Randolph, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 position. D’Jeri Raymond wrapped up the win with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Timara Maxwell at No. 6 singles.
Their view to advancement for championship glory and the sweep was imminent until Southern met their demise.
Alcorn State knocked off defending champions Southern, 4-2 to advance to the 2016 SWAC Women’s Tennis Tournament championship match. The Braves advance to win against Jackson State.
Alcorn State picked up the doubles point. Aida Kelic and Ivana Boberic won 6-4 at No. 2 doubles while their teammates Aakanksha Punj and Marline Maier defeated D’Jeri Raymond and Mia Kent, 6-1.
In singles action, Southern picked up a point when Rufaro Chirewa defated Patricia Normand, 6-0, 6-3 at No. 4 position. The Jaguars Amanda Materre won 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, over Sibohan Ryan-Bovey at No. 3 singles.
Alcorn State picked up victories at No. 2 when Ivana Boberic won 7-6, 6-3, over Darnesha Moore. The Braves’ Ekaterina Potapova defeated D’Jeri Raymond, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, at No. 5 singles, while Marlene Maier beat 6-7, 6-0, 6-1 Nicki Neal at No. 6 singles for the win.
Amanda Materre and Rufero Chirewa were the only Jaguars to make the 2016 All Tournament Team while in previous years it was swaddled with Southern talent.
Although Southern ends the season not becoming champions their 5-2 record in the SWAC proves that their season was an inept and most challenging one yet.