Box Score

NEWARK, NJ—The NJIT women's tennis team opened ASUN Conference action with a 5-2 win over visiting USC Upstate Saturday afternoon at The Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.

With the win, NJIT has won its second consecutive match and last four-out-of-five matches, moving to 1-0 in the ASUN and 8-6 overall.  The eight wins ties the Highlanders win total accomplished in 2016-17.

"USC Upstate is a team that did beat us 4-3 last season so it feels good to see how much we developed and be able to come up with 5-2 victory," head coach Zaki Abdelrahman added after the win. "It's never easy to get a win in the first match of the conference play and get rid of the nerves but the team handled the situation well. We did not play our best tennis but the team was focused enough to get this win without problems."

Highlander pair Holly Matson and Rafaella Sampaio teamed for a 6-2 win at first doubles.  Matson won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0 at the third spot over Vale Zarama.

NJIT duo Amanda Helminsky and Advaita Saravanan posted a 6-4 win at second doubles.  Saravanan won by identical scores at first singles, 6-3, 6-3, topping Carol Sigaki while Heminsky, at the fifth spot, was a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Gabriela Cevallos.

Mayar Eltony, an All-ASUN Freshman team honoree last season, registered a 6-2, 6-3 at the second spot over Noelia Acuna.

NJIT will return to action on Thursday, March 29, welcoming ASUN Conference opponent North Florida at 2pm in The Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.
 
NJIT 5, USC Upstate 2 (Final)
Doubles:
1. Matson/Sampaio (NJIT) defeated Sigaki/Zarama (USC Upstate) 6-2
2. Helminsky/Saravanan (NJIT) defeated Acuna/T. Dodd (USC Upstate) 6-4
3. Eltony/Rosas (NJIT) vs Cevallos/M. Dodd (USC Upstate) unfinished 4-5
 
Singles:
1. Advaita Saravanan (NJIT) defeated Carol Sigaki (USC Upstate) 6-3, 6-3
2. Mayar Eltony (NJIT) defeated Noelia Acuna (USC Upstate) 6-2, 6-3
3. Holly Matson (NJIT) defeated Valeria Zarama (USC Upstate) 6-3, 6-0
4. Alba Rosas Garcia (NJIT) lost against Taylor Dodd (USC Upstate) 6-4, 1-6, 12-10
5. Amanda Helminsky (NJIT) defeated Gabriela Cevallos (USC Upstate) 6-3, 6-0
6. Mikaya Hamilton(NJIT) lost against Morgan Dodd (USC Upstate) 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-4