It had been four years since the Ladies of A&M visited Florence, Ala., to meet the Lions of North Alabama.  Four years ago, the inhospitable Lions handed the Lady Bulldogs a tough fought 4-5 loss.  History always finds a way to repeat itself as the Lions and Lady Bulldogs once again went the distance in a match that was decided just before dark by the last 2 matches.  It would turn out to be a 5-4 home win for the Lions of UNA.

Playing with D2 scoring, the Lady Bulldogs came out of doubles down 2-1. UNA, having lost a player to a season-ending knee injury earlier in the season, played with only 5 players and forfeited the #3 doubles point and the #6 singles point.

“That has to be a tough thing to happen to coach Bishop,” commented Thomas Colvin, Lady Bulldogs coach.  “He’s got a solid group, but like us, playing with a roster of only 6, an injury to any one player is devastating.  We’re just not able to give away anything any come back from it.”

Colvin went on to say, “we seem to be making some steps forward in a couple of areas, and a step backwards in others.  The Cherry’s represented themselves very well today in their play.”

The elder Cherry, sophomore Jasmine, got out to a 6-2 first-set lead while the doubles matches were being played.  The younger Cherry, freshman Denise, followed big sisters example by taking her first set 6-4.  Both closed their matches in second set tie-breaks, Jasmine went a bit longer, winning 10-8 in her tie-break, while Denise closed hers at 7-4.

Te’Isha Mixon got out to a 5-0 first set lead and finally closed the first set at 6-2.  A contact lens issue caused her problems in the second set, losing it 6-7 in a tie-break, and falling 1-6 in the 3rd.

Senior Brittany Jelks was the last Lady Bulldog to go on court and seemed to take a while to get in gear.  She dropped the first set 6-2 before getting warmed up and playing her way into a tie-break in the second set.  She was unable to maintain the momentum that got her to the tie-break and fell 7-6 (10-8).

“We’re getting closer.  We’ve still got a lot of work to do on finishing the points and the games.”

The Lady Bulldogs will play host to Stillman College on March 22nd and Tennessee State on the 23rd.