HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Junior Paula Corbalan made history after winning the women's singles competition at the SWAC Fall Tournament, punching her ticket to the ITA Masters in San Diego, Calif.

Corbalan won four matches on her way to the title. She began by defeating Florida A&M's Alyynah Thomas (6-3, 6-2) in the round of 16. Advancing to the quarterfinals, she faced
Alcorn State's Amelia Tatafu and claimed a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Continuing her strong form, Corbalan beat Cleanne Pickel from Alabama State 6-4, 6-1 to reach the finals, where she secured the championship over Kesmat El Tawil, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 win.

Meanwhile, newcomer Victoria Linkovski advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Florida A&M's Luiza Eidelvein, but was then edged out by Tawil.

The Lady Tigers nearly won the finals in doubles competition as well, as the duo of Linkovski and Helen Hernandez narrowly fell to Melisa Mekic and Diana Craciun of Alabama State in a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7) decision. They defeated Alicia Owegi and Tstitsi Mahere (Alabama A&M), and Zahara El-Zein and Jalayah Shaw (Bethune-Cookman) to advance to the finals.


Women's Singles Competition

Round of 16
Kesmat El Tawil (Alabama State) def. Gabrielle Henderson (Alabama A&M) 6-3, 6-1
Victoria Linkovski (Jackson State) def. Luiza Eidelvein (Florida A&M) 6-2, 6-4
Diana Craciun (Alabama State) def. Oihane V. Lopez (Alcorn State) 6-0, 6-0
Sofia Sotelo Raya (Alabama A&M) def. Zahara El-Zein (Bethune-Cookman) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
Tshegofatso Tsiang (Southern) def. Sydney Brantley (Florida A&M) 6-4, 6-2
Cleanne Pickel (Alabama State) def. Jalayah Shaw (Bethune-Cookman) 6-2, 6-4
Paula Corbalan (Jackson State) def. Alyynah Thomas (Florida A&M) 6-3, 6-2
Amelia Tatafu (Alcorn State) def. DeCora Antoine (Southern) 6-3, 6-3

Quarterfinals
Kesmat El Tawil (Alabama State) def. Victoria Linkovski (Jackson State) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
Diana Craciun (Alabama State) def. Sofia Sotelo Raya (Alabama A&M) 6-4, 6-4
Cleanne Pickel (Alabama State) def. Tshegofatso Tsiang (Southern) 6-3, 6-3
Paula Corbalan (Jackson State) def. Amelia Tatafu (Alcorn State) 6-0, 6-1

Semifinals
Kesmat El Tawil (Alabama State) def. Diana Craciun (Alabama State) 6-1, 6-4
Paula Corbalan (Jackson State) def. Cleanne Pickel (Alabama State) 6-4, 6-1

Final
Paula Corbalan (Jackson State) def. Kesmat El Tawil (Alabama State) 6-1, 6-0

Women's Doubles Competition

Quarterfinals
Melisa Mekic/Diana Craciun (Alabama State) def. DeCora Antoine/Tshegofatso Tsiang (Southern) 8-2
Alyynah Thomas/Gabrielle Pierce (Florida A&M) def. Amelia Tatafu/Oihane V. Lopez (Alcorn State) 8-5
Victoria Linkovski/Helen Hernandez (Jackson State) def. Alicia Owegi/Tstitsi Mahere (Alabama A&M) 8-5

Semifinals
Victoria Linkovski/Helen Hernandez (Jackson State) def. Zahara El-Zein/Jalayah Shaw (Bethune-Cookman) 8-1
Melisa Mekic/Diana Craciun (Alabama State) def. Alyynah Thomas/Gabrielle Pierce (Florida A&M) 8-2

Final
Melisa Mekic/Diana Craciun (Alabama State) def. Victoria Linkovski/Helen Hernandez (Jackson State) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7)

Up Next 
Corbalan will compete in the ITA Conference Masters in San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 7-9. 

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