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Lady Cards Tennis Team NCAA Tournament Bound!!!!

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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Lamar women's tennis team defeated two-time defending SLC champion Southeastern Louisiana 4-2 at the Schlief Tennis Complex on the Campus of Stephen F. Austin on Sunday, claiming its first-ever SLC Tournament title and earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

With intermittent rain expected in the Nacogdoches area on Sunday, tournament officials decided to start the championship match with singles and play doubles only if necessary.

Lamar tallied wins at Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6 for the victory, as Manami Kuroda and Kaltrina Harbuzi both came from a set down to win their matches. The victory gives Lamar their first SLC Tournament crown and boosts their record to 24-2 on the year, two wins shy of the school record of 26 wins set by the 1983 team.

"This was an amazing match," Lady Cardinals head coach David Wong said. "I have so much respect for Southeastern's head coach Jason Hayes and his team. They have a great team, but so do we.

"I want to give a special thank you to my volunteer assistant coach Jon Flannigan for all of the hard work and hours he has given to our program. Without his help we would not be where we are today and we would not have had the opportunity to win this championship."

Holding a 3-2 lead in the match, the Lady Cardinals turned to the final singles match of the day, where Harbuzi was locked in a battle with Breda Kovac at No. 3. After dropping the first set 7-6, Harbuzi rebounded to take a close second set 7-5 and even the match at a set apiece. With momentum on her side Harbuzi rolled over Kovac in the third set for a 6-0 win, punching the Lady Cardinals ticket to the NCAA tournament.

"Kaltrina was awesome," Wong said. "She battled from behind and made sure that we weren't going to play the doubles point to decide who would win the match. Once she won the second set she refused to let up and won the match convincingly."

The first point for the Lady Cardinals was notched by Manijee Ashrafi at No. 6 singles as she blew past Nina Knavs 6-1, 6-0. Ashrafi became the first Southland Conference opponent to hand Knavs a loss in three years.

"Manijee really stepped up for us this weekend," Wong said. "She played so well for us, and to cap it off with such a dominating win over one of the best players in the conference is very special."

Mariaryeni Gutierrez grabbed the second point for Lamar, taking down Iva Velovska 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 2 spot. The win boosted Gutierrez's season record to 24-0 and was her 20th win at No. 2 singles.

"Mariaryeni has been so solid all season long, and today was no different," Wong said. "She had a tough battle on her hands today, but she refused to lose. I think she hates losing more than she likes winning, and that determination to be the best gives her an edge in every match she plays in."

At No. 5 singles Kuroda dropped the first set 4-6 to Bonnie Phillips, but battled back to take the second set 6-3. With the match tied at one set apiece, Kuroda gave LU their third point with a 6-4 win in the third set. Just like Ashrafi's victory over Knavs, Kuroda became the first SLC competitor to earn a victory over Phillips in three years.

"Manami really lived up to her all conference selection this weekend," Wong said. "She just continues to step on the court and produce. We couldn't have won this tournament without her."

The Lady Lions two points came from wins at No. 1 and No. 3 where Emilija Arnaudovska defeated Andrea Martinez and Jana Simurkova took down Maria Gutierrez. Arnaudovska handed Martinez a 6-2, 6-3 loss at No. 1 and Simurkova beat Gutierrez 6-3, 6-1.

The NCAA Tournament will begin with first and second rounds, May 9-10 at campus sites. The Lady Cardinals will find out who their first round opponent will be on Tuesday afternoon when the NCAA announces the tournament field.

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