MORROW, Ga. – In their first home date in three weeks, Clayton State (2-5, 0-3 PBC) found their home court to their liking as they posted a hard fought 5-4 victory over Clark Atlanta (6-9, 6-1 SIAC) in an NCAA Division II women's tennis match on Friday, March 17.
 
Junior Alina Ageichik (Minsk, Republic of Belarus) and freshman Laura Shkembi (Oostende, Belgium) got things started as they posted a convincing 8-2 decision at No. 2 doubles. They were quickly followed by seniors Kristiin Mets (Kuressaare, Estonia) and Darina Drozdova (St. Petersburg, Russia), who delivered an identical 8-2 win at the top spot.
 
The Lakers would make it a 3-0 lead as the freshmen tandem of Laura Toscan (Balneario Camboriu, Brazil) and freshman Brittney Canty (Powder Springs, Ga.) won a hard-fought 8-6 battle at the No. 3 position.
 
Clark Atlanta would battle back in singles action as Keyvona Moultrie and Vanessa Eusebio notched 6-1, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-1 decisions at No. 6 and No. 3, respectively. That cut the deficit to 3-2 before Mets delivered a 6-4, 6-0 victory at the top spot to pull Clayton State to within one of a win.
 
The Panther's Alexis Fletcher delayed that with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4 but could not prevent it as Ageichik put the match away with a 6-0, 7-5 victory at No. 5. Rounding things out would be a marathon 6-7, 6-3, 10-8 win by CAU's Tori Pradier at the second position to reach the final margin of 5-4.
 
A marathon in itself, the match ran a total time of 5:11. It is Clayton State's longest contest of the season by nearly an hour.
 
The Lakers are right back in action tomorrow, Saturday, March 18 when they host No. 8 Columbus State. First serve is set for 4 p.m. in Morrow, Georgia. This is a change from the original 1 p.m. game time to accommodate rain that is expected to move through the area in the morning.
 
Clayton State 5, Clark Atlanta 4

Singles competition

1. Kristiin Mets (CST) def. DiAndrea Galloway (CAU) 6-4, 6-0

2. Tori Pradier (CAU) def. Darina Drozdova (CST) 6-7, 6-3, 10-8

3. Vanessa Eusebio (CAU) def. Laura Shkembi (CST) 6-1, 6-0

4. Alexis Fletcher (CAU) def. Brianna Canty (CST) 6-4, 6-2

5. Alina Ageichik (CST) def. Jade Shugars (CAU) 6-0, 7-5

6. Keyvona Moultrie (CAU) def. Laura Toscan (CST) 6-1, 6-1

 

Doubles competition

1. Kristiin Mets/Darina Drozdova (CST) def. DiAndrea Galloway/Tori Pradier (CAU) 8-2

2. Alina Ageichik/Laura Shkembi (CST) def. Vanessa Eusebio/Keyvona Moultrie (CAU) 8-2

3. Laura Toscan/Brittney Canty (CST) def. Alexis Fletcher/Jade Shugars (CAU) 8-6