OXFORD, Ala. – Alabama A&M (3-5, 3-0 SWAC) stepped out of league competition and dropped a 6-1 decision at Jacksonville State (3-5, 0-0 ASUN) in an NCAA Division I women's tennis match on Friday, February 25.
 
Freshman Deja Brown (Spring Valley, Calif.) and senior India Woods (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) would put up a fight at No. 3 doubles before falling to Balsen Kaya and Anna Syrova by a 6-3 score while the No. 2 spot would be even more competitive. That one would see the Paraguay pair of juniors Camila Ruiz Diaz (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Ximena D. Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) push Dariana Prato and Ell Tuomela before falling 6-4.
 
Having secured the doubles point, JSU maintained that momentum in singles play as Syrova notched a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Brown at the two spot while Kennedi Jones defeated Woods 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6. They would then seal the match victory as Tuomela closed out sophomore Neha Ghare (Pune, India) by scores of 6-0, 6-3 at the fourth position.
 
Despite the match no longer being in doubt, A&M delivered impressive outings as Ramirez delivered a competitive outing at No. 3 before falling 6-4, 6-2. Ruiz Diaz would then break through at the fifth position as she knocked off Balsen 6-3, 7-5 and senior Jasmine Boyd (Marion, Ind.) challenged Romane Mosse at the top spot. In that one she dropped the opening set 7-5 before evening it by the same score in the second and falling 8-0 in a tiebreak.
 
The Bulldogs are right back in action tomorrow, Saturday, February 26 as they host recent NCAA Division I transitional team St. Thomas (Minn.). Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Huntsville Tennis Center.
 
JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, ALABAMA A&M 1
Doubles
No. 1. Romane Mosse/Kennedi Jones (JAX) vs. Jasmine Boyd/Neha Ghare (AAMU) 4-5, UF
No. 2. Dariana Prato/Ella Tuomela (JAX) def. Ximena D. Ramirez/Camila Ruiz Diaz (AAMU) 6-4
No. 3. Balsen Kaya/Anna Syrova (JAX) def. Deja Brown/India Woods (AAMU) 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2
 
Singles
No. 1. Romane Mosse (JAX) def. Jasmine Boyd (AAMU) 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (8-0)
No. 2. Anna Syrova (JAX) def. Deja Brown (AAMU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3. Dariana Prato (JAX) def. Ximena D. Ramirez (AAMU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 4. Ella Tuomela (JAX) def. Neha Ghare (AAMU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 5. Camila Ruiz Diaz (AAMU) def. Balsen Kaya (JAX) 6-3, 7-5
No. 6. Kennedi Jones (JAX) def. India Woods (AAMU) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4, 3, 5, 1