Tennis Sweeps Southern to End Nonconference Play

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Rutgers women’s tennis team (9-5, 0-3 B1G) ended nonconference play with a sweep of Southern University (1-10, 1-2 SWAC), earning a 7-0 victory on Saturday afternoon. 

The decision marks the fourth 7-0 sweep for the Scarlet Knights this season.  

𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 👏

Rutgers sweeps Southern, 7-0, to finish out the nonconference schedule! #GoRU | #RTennis pic.twitter.com/jUu203URXX

— Rutgers Tennis (@RutgersTennis) March 18, 2023

 
Doubles 

RU started off the match with a dominant performance in doubles, allowing just one game point between all three matches.  

The pair of Jackeline Lopez/Arina Valitova secured a big 6-0 win on the first court before Chloe Brown/Daira Cardenas followed up with a 6-1 decision on the third.  

Tara Chilton/Amira Badawi were also ahead 5-0 when doubles play was suspended.  

Rutgers has now won the doubles point in nine matches this season.  

Singles 

The Scarlet Knights continued on with excellent singles play, winning all six matches in straight sets.  

Lopez led the team at the top of the lineup with a 6-2, 6-1 decision to mark her seventh two-set win. Badawi followed up with another victory (6-4, 6-0) to win her eighth match in the past 10 outings. Valitova rounded out the top half of the lineup with a solid victory, 6-1, 6-2.  

Mai Nguyen and Minchae Kim got back in the win column securing 6-3, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-1 victories, respectively. Finally on the final court, Cardenas recorded the third 6-0 set win of the day in addition to a 6-1 decision to solidify the sweep….