MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State women's tennis has wrapped up the fall portion of the season following a pair of individual tournaments.
 
The Lakers opened the 2016-17 campaign at the nearby Premiere College Tennis Experience from September 15-17 in nearby Jonesboro, Georgia. In that tournament, senior Darina Drozdova (St. Petersburg, Russia) won the singles as she defeated teammate and fellow senior Kristiin Mets (Kuressaare, Estonia) 6-3, 5-7, 10-7.
 
In doubles play, it would once again be an all Clayton State final as Drozdova and senior Maria Mendes (Sau Paulo, Brazil) posted an 8-6 doubles final victory over Mets and junior Alina Ageichik (Minsk, Republic of Belarus).
 
Following that season opening outing, the Lakers would head to Sumter, South Carolina for the Southeast Regional Small College ITA/Oracle Championships from September 30 through October 2. At that tournament, Drozdova excelled in the Singles "B" draw, eventually advancing to the quarterfinals.
 
She would defeat Javiera Gonzalez of Lincoln Memorial 3-3 (advanced on tiebreaks) in the Round of 64 before pulling out a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne's Emily Murchland in the Round of 32. Facing Marie Habiyareyme, Drozdova delivered a hard earned 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision to advance to the quarterfinals.
 
Her run would end there, but not as a result of getting beat but of having to withdraw due to injury. Her opponent, North Georgia's Holly Bennett, would advance to the all the way to the finals after advancing with the score at 6-3, 3-1 (ret. inj.). Mendes would also post a victory in that bracket as she defeated Southern Wesleyan's Aimee Dorley 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 before falling 6-3, 6-2 to Francis Marion's Magan Head in the Round of 32.
 
In Singles "A" action, senior Kristiin Mets (Kuressaare, Estonia) defeated Limestone's Hannah Hopkins 6-3, 6-0 to advance to the Round of 32 before Lena Lutzeier of the defending NCAA Division II National Champions Armstrong State posted a 6-0, 6-3 decision against her in her next match.
 
It would be Drozdova and Mendes that wrapped up the top finishes for the Lakers, doing so in the Doubles "B" draw. They would earn an 8-4 victory over Julia Loos and Gonzalez from Lincoln Memorial before falling 8-0 to Kelly Burge and Laura Kelly of Flagler in the Round of 16.
 
With the fall portion of the schedule concluded, the Lakers return to action on February 5, 2017 when they head to Lawrenceville, Georgia to take on NAIA No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett.