MORROW, Ga. – Facing a 4-2 deficit, Clayton State (3-14, 1-11 PBC) pulled out a thrilling 5-4 victory as it would come down to the last match against Georgia Southwestern (5-17, 0-11 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's tennis match on Sunday, April 9.
 
Seniors Kristiin Mets (Kuressaare, Estonia) and Darina Drozdova (St. Petersburg, Russia) got things started as they picked up a convincing 8-2 victory at No. 1 doubles while junior Alina Ageichik (Minsk, Republic of Belarus) and freshman Laura Shkembi (Oostende, Belgium) delivered an 8-5 at No. 3.
 
The Hurricanes would battle back at the second spot, however, as the pairing of Hannah Ayers and Lauren Resnick came away with a narrow 9-8 decision.
 
Trailing 2-1 entering singles, GSW would continue that momentum as Anneliese Leahy, Ayers and Kendall Crew delivered three straight wins to go from down one to up 4-2. Leahy notched a 6-0, 6-0 decision at No. 6, Ayers earned a 6-0, 6-3 decision at No. 3 and Crew a 7-6, 6-0 score at No. 5. Those would be the last points they would get.
 
The Lakers would begin their comeback at the second spot as Mets powered home a 6-4, 6-3 victory to cut the deficit to one. At the No. 4 position, Ageichik would drop the first frame 6-3 before rallying to even the match at 6-3. She would be leading 3-0 when she claimed the contest as a result of an injury retirement by her opponent Charli Allen.
 
Even at 4-4, it all came down to the top two players on the day, Clayton State's Drozdova and Georgia Southwestern's Maria Taboada. Much like the match itself, the battle at No. 1 would be just that as Drozdova pulled out a marathon 7-5, 7-5 decision to clinch a 5-4 victory.
 
With the win, the Lakers are now 13-3 all-time against GSW, 12-0 in league play (Georgia Athletic Conference and PBC) and 8-2 at home. Overall, they have won the last 11 matches dating back to February, 19, 2000.
 
Clayton State wraps up the season on Saturday, April 15 when they host NAIA No. 3 Auburn-Montgomery. First serve is set for 2 p.m. at the Clayton State Tennis Facility.
 
Clayton State 5, Georgia Southwestern 4

Singles competition

1. Darina Drozdova (CST) def. Maria Taboada (GSW) 7-5, 7-5

2. Kristiin Mets (CST) def. Celia del Castillo (GSW) 6-4, 6-3

3. Hannah Ayers (GSW) def. Laura Toscan (CST) 6-0, 6-3

4. Alina Ageichik (CST) def. Charli Allen (GSW) 3-6, 6-3, 3-0, retired

5. Kendall Crew (GSW) def. Brianna Canty (CST) 7-6 (1-0), 6-0

6. Anneliese Leahy (GSW) def. Brittney Canty (CST) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Kristiin Mets/Darina Drozdova (CST) def. Maria Taboada/Celia del Castillo (GSW) 8-2

2. Hannah Ayers/Lauren Resnick (GSW) def. Brittney Canty/Brianna Canty (CST) 9-8 (6-5)

3. Alina Ageichik/Laura Shkembi (CST) def. Kendall Crew/Anneliese Leahy (GSW) 8-5