Late Rally Lifts No. 31 Alabama Women’s Tennis Past Utah, 4-3, in Round One of Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

Friday, February 23

Montgomery, Ala.

9 A.M.

Alabama

University of Utah

Late Rally Lifts No. 31 Alabama Women’s Tennis Past Utah, 4-3, in Round One of Blue Gray National Tennis Classic

2/23/2018 4:58:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Utah Box Score

The Crimson Tide improves to 12-1 after its come-from-behind win in Montgomery

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 31 Alabama women's tennis team rallied back into the match after falling 2-3 to edge the University of Utah, 4-3, in the first round of competition at the 70^th playing of the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic at Lagoon Park Tennis Center on Friday. Freshman Kylie Moulin and sophomore Ann Selim captured back-to-back matches to complete the come-from-behind win over the Utes.

In the second round, Alabama dropped the doubles points to No. 10 Wake Forest, and will continue singles play tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. CT at Lagoon Park.

The Crimson Tide improved to 12-1 on the season after Friday's victory, which ties the best 13-match start in program history since 2009.

"Today was a battle from start to finish," coach Jenny Mainz said. "I'm proud of the team for finding a way to win earlier today beating a very tough Utah team. We found another gear and dug out some close matches. We showed a lot of tenacity and poise in some pivotal situations."

"We lost a close doubles points to Wake this afternoon, but we'll be ready to compete at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow," Mainz continued. "This team has heart and grit, and they're playing together."

Alabama took the early advantage over Utah (6-2) by snatching the doubles point for the 1-0 lead. After junior Andie Daniell and sophomore Ann Selim took care of Chisholm/Pletcher, 6-3, at No. 1, competition started to heat up on the remaining courts as the Crimson Tide and the Utes where knotted at 6-6 at No. 2 and No. 3. Then, senior Smith Hinton and sophomore Jacqueline Pelletier answered the call, winning the tiebreaker to take the match, 7-6, over Calton/Turley.

In singles play, Margo Pletcher put the Utes on the board, tying the score at 1-1 after defeating sophomore Luca Fabian, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 3. The match tied again after Utah's Alexia Petrovic defeated No. 118 Daniel, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1, and Alabama's Hinton topped Brianna Chisholm, 7-6, 6-4, at No. 2.

Then at No. 4, Jena Cheng put Utah on top, 3-2, after edging Pelletier, 7-6, 7-6, but Moulin evened out the playing field in comeback fashion, topping Victoria Roberston, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3, at No. 5.

For the match, Selim carried the team to victory, moving past Taylor Calton, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 6 to pick up the Tide's third-straight win.

In doubles play in the second round, Wake Forest captured the wins on courts one and two to secure the doubles point. No. 31 Davis/Carter defeated Daniell and Selim, 6-4, at No. 1, while Omirou/Ulyashchenko topped Moulin and Pelletier, 6-2, at No. 2.

The Crimson Tide will resume play against the Demon Deacons tomorrow, Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m. CT at Lagoon Park, and will wrap up competition playing either No. 5 Illinois or No. 26 Auburn at noon or 2:30 p.m.

Alabama Match 1 Results:

#31 Alabama 4, Utah 3

Doubles

1. Daniell/Selim (UA) def. Chisholm/Pletcher (UTAH), 6-3

2. Moulin/Cortina-Pou (UA) vs. Petrovic/Cheng (UTAH), unfinished 6-6

3. Hinton/Pelletier (UA) def. Calton/Turley (UTAH), 7-6

Order of Finish: 1, 3

Singles

1. Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) def. #118 Andie Daniell (UA), 6-3, 6-4

2. Smith Hinton (UA) def. Brianna Chisholm (UTAH), 7-6, 6-4

3. Margo Pletcher (UTAH) def. Luca Fabian (UA), 6-2, 6-0

4. Jena Cheng (UTAH) def. Jacqueline Pelletier (UA), 7-6, 7-6

5. Kylie Moulin (UA) def. Victoria Robertson (UTAH), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

6. Ann Selim (UA) def. Taylor Calton (UTAH), 6-2, 6-4

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

Alabama Match 2 Results:

After Doubles: #10 Wake Forest 1, #31 Alabama 0

Doubles

1. No. 31 Davis/Carter (WF) def. Daniell/Selim (UA) 6-4

2. Omirou/Ulyashchenko (WF) def. Moulin/Cortina-Pou (UA) 6-2

3. Meredith/Zalewski (WF) vs. Hinton/Pelletier (UA) unfinished 6-5

Order of Finish: 2, 1

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaWTN on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaWTN on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.