Women's Tennis 3/27/2021 5:41:00 PM

Lady Tigers Continue To Build; Compete In SIAC Roundup

ATLANTA, Ga. – If you look just past the 1-7 season record, you'll find a Savannah State women's tennis program on the rise. You'll find a program building. You'll find good attributes not fully represented in the final scores.

As interim head coach last season, Charles Keenan put together a squad out of thin air in about six weeks. They earned a single win in the pandemic-shortened season, enough to lay a foundation. During the off-season, Keenan was promoted to head coach and started recruiting. He strengthened his first and second positions with top recruits and worked with his returning players to tighten their focus.

Into this season, Keenan and his fresh team have worked through pandemic regulations, myriad of cancellations and the loss of a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship to find some good nuggets of growth on their road to rebuilding.

At a three-match unofficial SIAC Roundup this weekend, the Lady Tigers showed a lot of promise. Though the team didn't pick up a win, there were tiny victories to be found.

In the first match, against Albany State, Venus Ubiebi and Caitlyn Schultz defeated Doylisha Copeland and Ana Maria Forero in the first court of double's action, 6-4. Ubiebi faced off with Asia Raulerson in the first court of singles play. Ubiebi picked up a 6-3 win in the first set, then fell 2-6 in the second set. Raulerson bested her 3-0 in the tiebreaker.

Schultz faced off against Forero in the second court. The heated match ended in a tie-breaker as well as Forero picked up the 6-0 victory after 7-5 and 7-6 wins in the opening two sets.

During the day's second match against Clark Atlanta, the Savannah State's first court in doubles action was again victorious. Ubiebi and Schultz beat Nicola Ramdyhan and Saran Lloyd 6-0. But the rest of the match's sets were winless for the Lady Tigers.

Savannah State faced Spring Hill in the final game of the roundup on Saturday. Ubiebi, Schultz and senior Maiya Broughton each picked up set wins, but ultimately were unable to win their matches.

The Savannah State women's tennis concludes the 2021 season against Benedict College on April 1 on the Tiger Tennis Courts. First serve is set for 3 p.m.Due to a mandate from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), the game will be closed event.

Albany State 7, Savannah State 0
Singles competition
1. Asia Raulerson (ASU) def. Venus Ubiebi (SSUWTN) 3-6, 6-2, 3-0
2. Ana Maria Forero (ASU) def. Caitlyn Schultz (SSUWTN) 7-5, 7-6 (6-0)
3. Doylisha Copeland (ASU) def. Bria Bembery (SSUWTN) 6-1, 6-0
4. Sumana Panuganti (ASU) def. Sarah Joachim (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
5. Allyah Williams (ASU) def. Maiya Broughton (SSUWTN) 6-1, 6-0
6. Zikeria Jones (ASU) def. Stella Ekwalla (SSUWTN) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Venus Ubiebi/Caitlyn Schultz (SSUWTN) def. Doylisha Copeland/Ana Maria Forero (ASU) 6-4
2. Asia Raulerson/Allyah Williams (ASU) def. Bria Bembery/Sarah Joachim (SSUWTN) 6-0
3. Sumana Panuganti/Lauren Johnson (ASU) def. Maiya Broughton/Stella Ekwalla (SSUWTN) 6-0
Match Notes:
Albany State 6-4
Savannah State 1-5
SIAC Roundup

Clark Atlanta University 7, Savannah State 0
Singles competition
1. Nicola Ramdyhan (CAU) def. Venus Ubiebi (SSUWTN) 6-2, 6-3
2. Shani Idlette (CAU) def. Caitlyn Schultz (SSUWTN) 6-1, 6-1
3. Keynon Thompkins (CAU) def. Bria Bembery (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-2
4. Madison Moffatt (CAU) def. Sarah Joachim (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
5. Saran Lloyd (CAU) def. Maiya Broughton (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
6. Shereese Henry (CAU) def. Stella Ekwalla (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Venus Ubiebi/Caitlyn Schultz (SSUWTN) def. Nicola Ramdyhan/Saran Lloyd (CAU) 6-0
2. Shani Idlette/Keynon Thompkins (CAU) def. Bria Bembery/Sarah Joachim (SSUWTN) 6-0
3. Miyanda Whynn/Madison Moffatt (CAU) def. Maiya Broughton/Stella Ekwalla (SSUWTN) 6-0
Match Notes:
Savannah State 1-6
Clark Atlanta University 2-1
SIAC Roundup

Spring Hill College 7, Savannah State 0
Singles competition
1. Jamie Martin (SPR-W) def. Venus Ubiebi (SSUWTN) 6-2, 6-1
2. MaryGrace Sullivan (SPR-W) def. Caitlyn Schultz (SSUWTN) 6-1, 6-1
3. Nicole Barron (SPR-W) def. Bria Bembery (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
4. Kayley Groff (SPR-W) def. Sarah Joachim (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
5. Carmen Tidwell (SPR-W) def. Maiya Broughton (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-2
6. Alyssa Lampitoc (SPR-W) def. Stella Ekwalla (SSUWTN) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Nicole Barron/Jamie Martin (SPR-W) def. Venus Ubiebi/Caitlyn Schultz (SSUWTN) 6-2
2. Kayley Groff/MaryGrace Sullivan (SPR-W) def. Bria Bembery/Sarah Joachim (SSUWTN) 6-0
3. Carmen Tidwell/Alyssa Lampitoc (SPR-W) def. Maiya Broughton/Stella Ekwalla (SSUWTN) 6-0
Match Notes:
Spring Hill College 4-7
Savannah State 1-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,4,5,3,2,1)
T-1:30 A-20

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Players Mentioned

Maiya Broughton: 5' 7"; Senior

Bria Bembery: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Stella Ekwalla: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Venus Ubiebi: 5' 7"; Junior

Caitlyn Schultz: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Sarah Joachim: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Maiya Broughton
: 5' 7"; Senior

Bria Bembery
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Stella Ekwalla
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Venus Ubiebi
: 5' 7"; Junior

Caitlyn Schultz
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Sarah Joachim
: 5' 6"; Sophomore