NEW ORLEANS, La.| No. 3 seed outlasted No. 2 seed Alabama A&M 4-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Pepsi Tennis Center.
Jackson State (8-11) advances to face No. 1 seed and defending champion Alabama State on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers opened the match with the doubles point after the two teams split matches at No. one and three, the team of
Alejandro Pinilla and
Gokalp Ayar broke serve and captured the match 6-4 to put Jackson State up 1-0 heading into singles play. The two teams split the first four matches complete giving Jackson State a 3-2 lead before Alabama A&M captured the match at No. 4 singles to tie the match at 3-all.
Carlos Castillo stormed back from dropping the first set 6-4 to Freddie Lawrence, winning the final two sets 6-4, 6-2 to send the Tigers to the championship match.
Tennis Match Results
Jackson State 4, Alabama A&M 3
April 20, 2024 (New Orleans, La.)
Pepsi Tennis Center
Singles
1.
Raul Centeno (JSU) def. Vence N'Tcha (AAMU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Chetanna Amadike (AAMU) def.
Alejandro Pinilla (JSU) 6-2, 6-1
3.
Federick Pickenstainer (JSU) def. Yin Chih Lan (AAMU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Arnav Pathange (AAMU) def.
Gokalp Ayar (JSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Kai Cowcher (AAMU) def.
Ching Chang Chiu (JSU) 7-5, 6-1
6.
Carlos Castillo (JSU) def. Freddie Lawrence (AAMU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Centeno/Chiu (JSU) def. N'Tcha/Lawrence (AAMU), 6-3
2. Pinilla/Ayar (JSU) def. Amadike/Lan (AAMU), 6-4
3. Cowcher/Pathange (AAMU) def. Pickenstainer/Castillo (JSU), 6-3
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,5,1,4,6)
2024 SWAC Championship Semifinals Match 8
Official: Diane Weizgand T-3hr 30m A-51
Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the SWAC championship match against Alabama State, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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