No. 35 Alabama Earns Third Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic Title on Saturday

Friday, February 23

Montgomery, Ala.

5:30 p.m. CT

Alabama

Illinois

The University of Alabama Women's Tennis Team meet before the match at Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, Jan 20, 2024.

Photo by: Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

No. 35 Alabama Earns Third Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic Title on Saturday

2/24/2024 11:28:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Crimson Tide defeats No. 22 Texas Tech 4-2, earning first tournament victory since 2015

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama women's tennis team defeated No. 24 Illinois (4-1) and No. 22 Texas Tech (4-2) on Saturday to win the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic for the first time since 2015.

The Crimson Tide (9-1) concluded round two with a 4-1 victory over No. 24 Illinois, which advanced Alabama into the championship round where the team defeated No. 22 Texas Tech, 4-2.

The Tide opened the day rounding out singles play against Illinois, which included victories on courts one, two and three. Petra Sedlackova defeated Violeta Martinez in straight-sets (6-3, 6-4), while Loudmilla Bencheikh and Anne Marie Hiser each won in three sets, respectively. Bencheikh defeated Megan Heuser, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 as Hiser outlasted Kathryn Treiber, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3, to propel Alabama into the championship round.

Despite dropping the doubles point against Texas Tech, Alabama secured four victories in singles play, highlighted by Priya Nelson's, 7-5, 7-6(5) win against Jermine Sherif to clinch the victory for the Tide. Ola Pitak defeated Metka Komac, 6-3, 7-6(6), while Klara Milicevic beat Andreea Alexandra Lila, 6-1, 6-3. Although falling behind in set one, Bencheikh battled to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 over Cristina Tiglea.

With three-straight wins over ranked opponents, Alabama improves to 9-1 before beginning Southeastern Conference play on March 1.

Tournament History

2023, Alabama defeated No. 22 Texas Tech, 4-2
2015, Alabama defeated Texas Tech, 4-1
2014, Alabama defeated Rice, 4-3

Up Next

Alabama begins Southeastern Conference play on March 1 versus Vanderbilt
The match begins at 3 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Facility

Results
Singles vs. No. Illinois

#31 Loudmilla Bencheikh (UA) def. Megan Heuser (Illinois), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
#79 Petra Sedlackova (UA) def. Violeta Martinez (Illinois), 6-3, 6-4
Anne Marie Hiser (UA) def. Kathryn Treiber (Illinois), 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
McKenna Schaefbauer (Illinois) vs. Ole Pitak (UA), Unfinished
Josie Frazier (Illinois) def. Anna Parkhomenko (UA), 6-2, 6-3
Kida Ferrari (Illinois) vs. Klara Milicevic (UA), Unfinished

Doubles vs. No. 22 Texas Tech

Avelina Sayfetdinova/Metka Komac (TTU) def. #37 Loudmilla Bencheikh/Anne Marie Hiser (UA) 7-6 (7-5)
Cristina Tiglea/Mariya Polishchuk (TTU) def. Petra Sedlackova/Anna Parkhomenko (UA) 6-4
Ola Pitak/Klara Milicevic (UA) vs. Jermine Sherif/Andreea Lila (TTU) 6-5, Unfinished

Singles vs. No. 22 Texas Tech

#31 Loudmilla Bencheikh (UA) def. Cristina Tiglea (TTU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
Mariya Polishchuk (TTU) def. #79 Petra Sedlackova (UA) 6-1, 6-1
Anne Marie Hiser (UA) vs. Avelina Sayfetdinova (TTU) 4-6, 6-4, 1-5, Unfinished
Ola Pitak (UA) def. Metka Komac (TTU) 6-4, 7-6 (0-6)
Klara Milicevic (UA) def. Andreea Lila (TTU) 6-1, 6-3
Priya Nelson (UA) def. Jermine Sherif (TTU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)

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