TROY, Ala. (03/31/07) ? Junior Rachel Malina (Decatur, Ga.) used the third set to defeat her opponent and clinch the match as the Georgia State (10-7, 1-2 CAA) women's tennis team downed No. 75 Troy (11-6, 2-1 SBC) at the Lunsford Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Troy took an early 1-0 lead as it gained the doubles point, winning at No. 2 and No. 3.  In singles action, the Trojans added two more points winning at No. 4 and No. 2 singles.  State earned its first point when junior Mateja Podgorsek (Domzale, Slovenia) dropped Nicole Shaw 6-2, 6-1.  Junior Kiera Strickland followed with a victory of her own as she defeated Govzia in straight sets.  The Panthers cut the lead to 3-2.

Sophomore Dariana Kozmina (Kharkiv, Ukraine) tied the match with a win at No. 1.  Malina clinched the victory with a 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 win after being down 3-1 in the third set.

“It was an outstanding effort and great win for the ladies today,” said head coach Lisa Belcher.  “I am proud of the players.”

Georgia State will take its four-game winning streak on the road when it travels to Charlotte for a dual match at 10:00 a.m. on April 14.

Doubles

No. 1 ? Kozmina/Malina (GSU) def. Bares/Vieria (Troy) 8-5

No. 2 ? El Sisi/Jounia (Troy) def. Nitkova/Strickland (GSU) 8-5

No. 3 ? Shaw/Govzia (Troy) def. Podgorsek/Stahl-Johansson (GSU) 8-5

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles

No. 1 ? Dariana Kozmina (GSU) def. Rawia El Sisi (Troy) 6-1, 6-4

No. 2 ? Annabelle Bares (Troy) def. Martina Nitkova (GSU) 6-1, 6-1

No. 3 ? Rachel Malina (GSU) def. Stephanie Vieria (Troy) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5*

No. 4 ? Caroline Jounia (Troy) def. Emma Stahl-Johansson (GSU) 6-1, 6-0

No. 5 ? Mateja Podgorsek (GSU) def. Nicole Shaw (6-2, 6-1)

No. 6 ? Kiera Strickland (GSU) def. Fabiana Govzia (6-3, 6-4)

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 5, 6, 1, 3*

*Clinched match