Jaguars tested by No. 19/No. 5 Columbus State at home

By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in Chief

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams faced a tough test against nationally ranked Columbus State at the Newman Tennis Center, with the women falling 6-1 to the No. 19 Cougars and the No. 37-ranked men dropping a 5-2 decision to No. 5 Columbus State.

On the women’s side, Columbus State set the tone early by sweeping all three doubles matches. At No. 1 doubles, Maria Gento and Andrea Gonzalez fell 2-6. Priscilla Landi and Julieta Palma dropped their No. 2 match by the same score, 2-6, while Camila Taborga and Giovanna Patrocinio were defeated 0-6 at No. 3.

In singles play, the Jaguars’ lone point came from No. 3 Luciana Bejarano, who showed resilience after dropping the first set 3-6. She responded with a 6-4 win in the second set and led 7-6 (4) in the third-set tiebreak before the match was left unfinished. At No. 1, Gento fell in straight sets, 3-6, 3-6, while Gonzalez was defeated at No. 2, 1-6, 3-6. Landi competed well at No. 4, taking the opening set 7-5 before falling 3-6 and 4-6. Taborga and Patrocinio each pushed their matches to three sets at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, but ultimately came up short.

On the men’s side, the No. 37 Jaguars battled the No. 5 Cougars closely, earning a doubles win and two singles victories. In doubles, David Perret and Alexis Bailhache secured a 6-3 win at No. 2. Humberto Pinto and Alejandro Carbonell fell 3-6 at No. 1, while Arthur Valette and Tommy Matsumine were defeated 4-6 at No. 3.

In singles, Perret delivered a strong comeback at No. 2, rebounding from a first-set loss to win 7-5 and dominate the match tiebreak 10-0. Bailhache fell in straight sets at No. 1, 2-6, 3-6. Valette split sets at No. 3, falling 2-6 before winning 6-3, but was edged out 4-10 in the tiebreak. Carbonell dropped his match at No. 4, 3-6, 5-7. Enzo Sakiyama earned the Jaguars’ second point at No. 5 with a hard-fought 7-6, 1-6, 10-2 victory. At No. 6, Matsumine fell in straight sets, 5-7, 1-6.

Both teams will return to action on Sunday, March 29, when they host Lincoln Memorial University at the Newman Tennis Center.

Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.

Maria Gento prepares to receive a serve during her match at No. 1 singles. At the top of the page, Alexis Bailhache returns a ball during a rally in his match at No. 1 singles. (photos by Rodrigo Burgos Avila/the Bell Ringer)