BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville tennis teams travelled to Birmingham Southern on Wednesday afternoon, and both squads picked up wins in the frigid conditions. The men's team improves to 2-3 on the season, and the women start the year out at 1-0.
 
Finally playing its first match of the season after rain washed out the original season opener, the women's team won 5-4.
 
Proving the team with a 2-1 lead after doubles, the Chargers received points from the No. 1 and No. 3 positions in doubles play. Katie Bryant and Maria Lawton won 8-4 at the first position, while the third position duo of Kasi McDonald and Alejandra Pacheco were 8-5 victors.
 
Quickly grasping a strong 4-1 advantage, Pacheco won the No. 5 singles point easily 6-0, 6-1, and McDonald was a 6-2, 6-1 winner at the sixth position. Clinching the match in her first match as a Charger, Jessica Groupierre battled back from a 5-7 setback to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-3.
 
“I am really proud of how the ladies fought through today to get this win,” said Head Coach Daniel Finn. “The conditions sure weren't great, and we definitely battled some nerves but did a great job of finding a way to win.”
 
The men's team cruised to an 8-1 victory to give the team consecutive wins.
 
Jose Soto and Nestor Perez captured a point at the No. 1 doubles with an 8-3 triumph and Christopher Kano and Raphael Oliveira won 8-2 at the second position in doubles to give the team a 2-1 lead headed into singles action.
 
At the No. 5 position in singles, Oliveira won 6-2, 6-0 and then Kano sealed the match with a 6-1, 6-2 win at the No. 3.
 
At the top position, Soto won 6-2, 6-3, while Nestor Perez rallied from being down 2-5 in the first set to win 7-5, 6-1 at the No. 2. In the fourth spot, Fredrik Graaner won 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7), and Guillermo Reyes won 6-1, 6-1 at the sixth position.
 
Both teams will return to action on Friday when they welcome Carson Newman to Huntsville for a 1 p.m. match.