Alabama State wins third-straight #SWACWTEN Tournament
NEW ORLEANS – Alabama State secured its third-straight Southwestern Athletic Conference Tennis championship, defeating Alcorn State 4-0 in the 2019 finals Sunday morning at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.
The Lady Hornets took control early as Gabriela Lackova and Lea Krajcovicova defeated Alcorn State’s Klavdija Bukovec and Veronika Pytlikova for the first win of the day, 6-3. All-Tournament player Maria Popova teamed with Chloe Kabamba to clinch the doubles point with a 6-3 win over the Lady Braves tandem of Stefany Grlj and Ammaarah Tim.
From there, Alabama State cruised, as Lackova defeated Tim in straight sets during singles action, and all-tournament performers Reka Szentes and Urska Velec wrapped up the championship with singles wins at the No. 1 and No. 5 slots, respectively.
Popova was named Tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts during the weekend, highlighted by a dramatic three-set win in comeback fashion during the semifinals that propelled Alabama State to the finals.
Alabama State’s Anuk Christiansz was named Coach of the Year. The full all-tournament team is listed below, along with match results.
Alabama State 4, Alcorn State 0
(ASU wins championship)
No. 1 Singles: Reka Szentes (ASU) def. Stefany Grlj (ALCN) 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Singles: Maria Popova (ASU) vs. Anastasia Vaganova (ALCN), unfinished
No. 3 Singles: Lea Krajcovicova (ASU) vs. Bianca Birkenstock (ALCN) unfinished
No. 4 Singles: Gabriela Lackova (ASU) def. Ammaarah Tim (ALCN) 6-2, 6-0
No. 5 Singles: Urska Velec (ASU) def. Klavdija Bukovec (ALCN) 6-0, 6-4
No. 6 Singles: Chloe Kabama (ASU) vs. Veronika Pytlikova (ALCN), unfinished
No. 1 Doubles: Maria Popova/Chloe Kabamba (ASU) def. Stefany Grlj/Ammaarah Tim (ALCN) 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Reka Szentes/Urska Velec (ASU) vs. Anastasia Vaganova/Bianca Birkenstock (ALCN), unfinished
No. 3 Doubles: Gabriela Lackova/Chloe Kabamba def. Klavdija Bukovec/Veronika Pytlikova (ALCN) 6-2
All-Tournament Team
Ariel Dickson, Jackson State
Stefany Grli, Alcorn State
Anastasia Vaganova, Alcorn State
Reka Szentes, Alabama State
Urska Velec, Alabama State
Maria Popova, Alabama State (
Tournament MVP)