MACON, Ga. – Alabama A&M (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) women's tennis dropped a 7-0 decision to a strong Mercer (1-2, 0-0 SoCon) in an NCAA Division I women's tennis match on Saturday, January 29.
 
The Bears came out strong as the tandem of Mary Courville and Naya Tillitt posted a 6-0 decision over senior Jasmine Boyd (Marion, Ind.) and junior Neha Ghare (Pune, India) at No. 1 doubles. Senior India Woods (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and Deja Brown then upended Lekha Varudandi and Kristin Yordanov by a narrow 6-4 margin at the third spot to close out doubles play.
 
The pairing of junior Camila Ruiz (Asuncion, Paraguay) and senior Ximena Duarte Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) fell by that same score at No. 2, falling to Lauren Rich and Francesca Franchi to close out doubles play.
 
As they did in their doubles match, Yordanova and Varudandi posted solid victories in singles action as they defeated Ghare and Woods at the No. 6 and No. 5 spots, respectively. Both matches would be 6-0, 6-1 affairs while Boyd challenged Courville at the top spot before dropping a 6-1, 6-3 decision that clinched the match for Mercer.
 
Despite the matter at hand being decided, the Bulldogs delivered some of their best play over the final three matches. Brown pushed Tillitt at No. 2 before succumbing by a 6-4, 6-3 score and Ruiz Diaz went 6-3, 6-2 against Rich at the third spot. The most competitive match of the day would come in the final one as Ramirez claimed the first set at No. 4 before falling 6-4 and 10-3 to Franchi to close out the 7-0 final.
 
Alabama A&M is back in action on Saturday, February 5 when they travel to face Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro. First serve is set for 5 p.m. with the match set to be carried live on PlaySight.
 
MERCER 7, ALABAMA A&M 0
Doubles
No. 1. Mary Courville/Naya Tillitt (MU) def. Jasmine Boyd/Neha Ghare (AAMU) 6-0
No. 2. Lauren Rich/Francesca Franchi (MU) def. Camila Ruiz Diaz/Ximena D. Ramirez (AAMU) 6-4
No. 3. India Woods/Deja Brown (AAMU) def. Lekha Varudandi/Kristin Yordanova (MU) 6-4
 
Singles
No. 1. Mary Courville (MU) def. Jasmine Boyd (AAMU) 6-1, 6-3
No. 2. Naya Tillitt (MU) def. Deja Brown (AAMU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3. Lauren Rich (MU) def. Camila Ruiz Diaz (AAMU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 4. Francesca Franchi (MU) def. Ximena D. Ramirez (AAMU) 5-7, 6-4, 10-3
No. 5. Lekha Varudandi (MU) def. Neha Ghare (AAMU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 6. Kristin Yordanova (MU) def. India Woods (AAMU) 6-0, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4