HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss handed Alcorn State a 4-0 loss Tuesday at the Southern Miss Tennis Complex. Despite the final score, the match was competitive, with three singles matches and one doubles contest still in progress when the outcome was decided, according to sources.
The Golden Eagles (3-4) clinched the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Saheb Sodhi and Eric Perkowski defeated Sebastian Griffiths and Tomas Grime 6-0 at No. 2, while Jose Murariu and Matei Varbanciu topped Fabian Juarez and Jorge Prats Navarrete 6-1 at No. 3. The No. 1 doubles match between Matthew Holl and Vicent Llobell Buigues and Alcorn’s team was tied at 3-3 before play was halted.
Southern Miss secured the match early in singles play. Kale Mize defeated Sebastian Griffiths 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1, and Ritabrata Sarkar beat Jorge Prats Navarrete 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6. Saheb Sodhi’s 6-2, 6-3 victory over Matthew Holl at No. 2 finalized the win for the Golden Eagles.
Several singles matches remained undecided when play ended. Vicent Llobell Buigues was trailing Olle Noltorp 2-1 in the third set at No. 3, and Tomas Grime and Fabian Juarez were in the midst of their matches at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Alcorn interim head coach Kersten Vanem-Walker praised her team’s effort. “I’m proud of the fight these guys showed today,” she said. “When you look at how many matches were still being contested when things wrapped up, that tells you we’re competing. I can see the growth from match to match. These guys are improving, they’re believing, and as long as we keep that trajectory going, good things are going to happen for this program.”
The Braves will host Texas-Rio Grande Valley at Halls Ferry Tennis Courts on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. Fans can follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports) and on Instagram (@AlcornSports) for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Complete results included Kale Mize defeating Sebastian Griffiths 6-3, 6-3; Saheb Sodhi beating Matthew Holl 6-2, 6-3; and Ritabrata Sarkar winning 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6. Doubles winners were Sodhi and Perkowski and Murariu and Varbanciu.
