APSU Sports: Austin Peay Women’s Tennis
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s tennis team opens a three-match home stand, noon, Saturday, against Southern Illinois at the Governors Indoor Tennis Center.
The Lady Govs are still searching for their first win as the young team has been dealt a tough season-opening schedule. Matches against ITA-ranked Vanderbilt, Memphis and Louisville allowed head coach Malik Tabet the opportunity to evaluate several newcomers. Over the past week, Austin Peay dropped matches to Samford and UAB.
Senior Vanja Tomic has turned it on at No. 1 singles, having won four straight matches, including a win against Louisville’s Rebecca Shine. Tomic will face an immediate challenge, Saturday, against SIU’s Melanie Delsart who is ranked 10th in the ITA Central Region.
In recent news, Tomic was picked atop the Ohio Valley Conference’s Preseason Individual Rankings and for good reason. As a junior, she went 16-5 overall with a 7-1 OVC mark – a year after being named the OVC’s Player of the Year as a sophomore.
“Vanja is one of our toughest competitors,” Tabet said. “She’s working hard and trying to get fit. She wants to be the best player in the conference, but at the same time, she knows she can’t sit on this prediction. She understands the work that has to be done to be the best.”
The rest of the Lady Govs lineup is comprised of four freshmen and sophomore Andra Cornea. Allison Carre has played primarily at No. 2 singles, while Ornella Di Salvo has played No. 3. Cornea has a pair of wins at No. 4 singles and Jovana Karak will round out the lineup.
The Salukis picked up a 5-2 win against Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois, February 4th, in their season opener. Southern Illinois swept the doubles point, but lost at Nos. 3 and 4 singles.
Austin Peay Lady Govs Tennis
